Ian ConstantineDoes match fixing happen in Australian sport?
August 25th 2006 09:33
This one's for the cabbie...
I asked a cabbie last night if he’d like me to write on any particular sports topic. After some hesitation he asked me to address whether or not match fixing occurs in Australian sport. So this one’s for the cabbie who took me from Station Bar in North Sydney over the bridge to Wake Up!
This one is probably the toughest one to address. I mean there have been match fixing allegations in Australian sport in the past, with the first to spring to mind the Warne/Mark Waugh controversy where they offered bookmakers inside information. It has traditionally been a subject which has only really been applied to subcontinent cricket sides. To ask whether or not match fixing occurs in Australian sport, well let’s just say the cabbie really had it in for me. Especially since I’m nursing a killer hangover.
I believe there will always be corruption in sport. I know it’s cynical but as much as I’m an optimist, I’m a realist first. This perhaps happens most commonly where money is inherent to the successfulness of the sport, horse racing. Having had a fleeting interest in the sport of kings, it becomes evident how often jockeys are in cahoots trying to provide the maximum return on their investments. Jockeys have been known to put in half arsed (excuse my French) efforts on what are meant to be ‘moral bets’, so yes in horse racing match fixing does occur. Now obviously it would be unlikely for something like this happen in a race like the Melbourne Cup, but there have been stranger things…
Personally I don’t believe that this sort of corruption happens in the major Australian sports. The national leagues have too much of a vested interest in the success of their relevant clubs to throw a match for a few thousand dollars. Not even the appeal of the first draft pick in the AFL could prompt Essendon or Carlton from throwing matches at the tail end of this season. Why? Because the life blood of the clubs are so vital to the success of the sports which they follow. Avoiding the wooden spoon will always be favoured to having the first draft pick. Ask any South Sydney supporter.
To some extent match fixing is always going to happen. The thrill of a cheap buck will always be a temptation too great for many to overcome, and until we live in a completely wholesome society some sort of corruption in all facets will take place. In Australian sport included.
So I hope that answered your question Mr. Cab Driver. Hopefully I’ll be able to give you a better fare than the $7.85 job from last night.
Cheers,
Nick Lockyer
I asked a cabbie last night if he’d like me to write on any particular sports topic. After some hesitation he asked me to address whether or not match fixing occurs in Australian sport. So this one’s for the cabbie who took me from Station Bar in North Sydney over the bridge to Wake Up!
This one is probably the toughest one to address. I mean there have been match fixing allegations in Australian sport in the past, with the first to spring to mind the Warne/Mark Waugh controversy where they offered bookmakers inside information. It has traditionally been a subject which has only really been applied to subcontinent cricket sides. To ask whether or not match fixing occurs in Australian sport, well let’s just say the cabbie really had it in for me. Especially since I’m nursing a killer hangover.
I believe there will always be corruption in sport. I know it’s cynical but as much as I’m an optimist, I’m a realist first. This perhaps happens most commonly where money is inherent to the successfulness of the sport, horse racing. Having had a fleeting interest in the sport of kings, it becomes evident how often jockeys are in cahoots trying to provide the maximum return on their investments. Jockeys have been known to put in half arsed (excuse my French) efforts on what are meant to be ‘moral bets’, so yes in horse racing match fixing does occur. Now obviously it would be unlikely for something like this happen in a race like the Melbourne Cup, but there have been stranger things…
Personally I don’t believe that this sort of corruption happens in the major Australian sports. The national leagues have too much of a vested interest in the success of their relevant clubs to throw a match for a few thousand dollars. Not even the appeal of the first draft pick in the AFL could prompt Essendon or Carlton from throwing matches at the tail end of this season. Why? Because the life blood of the clubs are so vital to the success of the sports which they follow. Avoiding the wooden spoon will always be favoured to having the first draft pick. Ask any South Sydney supporter.
To some extent match fixing is always going to happen. The thrill of a cheap buck will always be a temptation too great for many to overcome, and until we live in a completely wholesome society some sort of corruption in all facets will take place. In Australian sport included.
So I hope that answered your question Mr. Cab Driver. Hopefully I’ll be able to give you a better fare than the $7.85 job from last night.
Cheers,
Nick Lockyer
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