Jailed ref given 'match-fixing lessons'
Source: AFP |
July 16, 2013, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
A LEBANESE referee jailed for accepting free sex to rig Asian zone matches testified yesterday that a Singaporean businessman used YouTube to show him how to fix a game.
Ali Sabbagh, speaking on the first day of the trial of Eric Ding Si Yang, said the businessman sent him "20 to 30" YouTube links by email to "teach me how to make wrong decisions".
"The videos had too many decisions where the decision made by the referee is not the right decision," he said.
Ding is accused of providing Sabbagh, 34, and two other Lebanese officials with women who gave them free sexual services before a match in Singapore in April which they officiated.
Sabbagh and the other two officials were withdrawn from duty and placed under investigation before the match. He was found guilty in June and sentenced to six months in jail over the scandal.
Assistant referees Ali Eid and Abdallah Taleb were also convicted and have since been released and deported. Sabbagh said that in a series of email exchanges late last year, Ding told him that the best way to rig a match was to award penalties.
Sabbagh quoted Ding as saying that "nobody will stop you, nobody will do anything... When the corner comes, just blow and say pushing and pulling... If there is anything in the penalty area, you can blow your whistle".
Sabbagh repeatedly referred to Ding as "James", saying the Singaporean communicated with him through the email address jameszen7@gmail.com. Sabbagh said Ding asked them to choose between Colombian or Asian girls and "we all told him we want Asian girls".
Ali Sabbagh, speaking on the first day of the trial of Eric Ding Si Yang, said the businessman sent him "20 to 30" YouTube links by email to "teach me how to make wrong decisions".
"The videos had too many decisions where the decision made by the referee is not the right decision," he said.
Ding is accused of providing Sabbagh, 34, and two other Lebanese officials with women who gave them free sexual services before a match in Singapore in April which they officiated.
Sabbagh and the other two officials were withdrawn from duty and placed under investigation before the match. He was found guilty in June and sentenced to six months in jail over the scandal.
Assistant referees Ali Eid and Abdallah Taleb were also convicted and have since been released and deported. Sabbagh said that in a series of email exchanges late last year, Ding told him that the best way to rig a match was to award penalties.
Sabbagh quoted Ding as saying that "nobody will stop you, nobody will do anything... When the corner comes, just blow and say pushing and pulling... If there is anything in the penalty area, you can blow your whistle".
Sabbagh repeatedly referred to Ding as "James", saying the Singaporean communicated with him through the email address jameszen7@gmail.com. Sabbagh said Ding asked them to choose between Colombian or Asian girls and "we all told him we want Asian girls".
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