Qatar. FIFA World Cup is just a day away and before the start of the game on the field, a different kind of game has started. According to reports, the host country Qatar is facing allegations of match-fixing. Qatar has been accused of bribing Ecuador, the opponent of their first match.
According to Amjad Taha, regional director of the British Middle East Center for Studies and Research, Qatar has bribed opposition players. According to Taha and other insiders, Qatar paid $7.4 million (about Rs 60 crore) to eight Ecuadorian players to make them lose the tournament’s opening match. Taha also claims- ‘Qatar will win this match 1-0 and the only goal of the match will come in the second half.
FIFA has taken the help of the FBI to stop match-fixing in the World Cup. Because it is estimated that more than 100 billion dollars (about 8.17 lakh crore rupees) will be betted globally in the World Cup. FIFA has formed a task force for the first time to stop match-fixing. This includes SportRadar, an international firm that monitors the betting market, Interpol, the International Betting Integrity Association, and the FBI. He will monitor every match. This task force will keep an eye on irregularities ranging from goals to yellow cards. Sportradar says that there have been around 600 such matches this year, in which there is a possibility of manipulation. Most of the suspected matches are from minor leagues.
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