Top 3 match fixing scandals in the history of football
Match fixing has been around for a long time, and despite the sport being considered sacred by those who play and watch it, players and administrators have often been blinded by the love of money, and the chance to take the easy way out, although these incidents are not successfully investigated often.
Below are the 3 most infamous match fixing incidents in the history of the beautiful game.
#3 West Germany vs Austria (1982 World Cup)
Although their was no investigation or punishments handed, this is quite possibly the most outstanding incident of match fixing in a televised game.
In the 1982 edition of the World Cup, the biggest and most prestigious competition in football, the Austrian and West German teams knew that a 1-0 win for the latter would take both through to the knockout stages, and eliminate Algeria from the tournament.
After the Germans scored in the 10th minute, both teams basically stopped playing, there were no more attacks of note in the match, and both qualified. Despite a formal protest by the Algerian Football Association, no action was taken. However, this instance of blatant match fixing is the reason final group matches are now played simultaneously.
#2 Olympique de Marseille (Ligue 1)
Marseille in 1993 were the top football team in the world, having just come off a UEFA Champions League triumph and a 4th consecutive Ligue 1 title. Owner Bernard Tapie was on his way to creating a football dynasty with his club.
However, all this changed when it was discovered that in order to win a Ligue 1 game against huge underdogs Valenciennes, Tapie and other officials offered money to the opposition, and asked them to throw the match. This was done primarily so injuries could be avoided before the 1993 UCL final.
It wasn't long before this blatant attempt at match fixing was uncovered, and as punishment Marseille were relegated to the second division, whereas their owner, Bernard Tapie, was given a lifetime ban.