The integrity of Hong Kong sports is greatly damaged when players agree to bet on the outcome of matches, fix results, and deliberately lose internationals to win money in illegal gambling.
Three footballers who played for Hong Kong in the World Cup qualifier against Thailand in March 1997 were recently charged with cheating, and each sentenced to 22 months in prison.
For a measly $30,000 each, they passed up a chance to play in the World Cup finals and cast aside all thoughts of professionalism and patriotism.
The trio were convicted of conspiracy to cheat at gambling under Section 16 (1)(a) of the Gambling Ordinance (Cap 148), which states that, 'Any person who by . . . false practice, before or after or in the course of or in connection with gambling . . . wins from another person, for himself or for any other person ascertained or unascertained, any money . . . commits an offence'.
The players bet on the outcome of the match that they played.
They bet that Hong Kong would lose 0-2 to Thailand. In order to achieve that, they scored an own goal against Hong Kong, lost the game and won $30,000 each.
In addition, the trio also committed unlawful gambling as stated in Section 3 of the Gambling Ordinance.