Citiref
04 Oct 2005, 03:45 PM
Vietnam FIFA referee dragged into match fixing scandal
Mr. Truong The Toan and Mr. Le Van Tu
Another Vietnamese football referee, an international FIFA referee no less, is alleged to have taken money to alter the outcome of a First Division game in 2005.
Currently facing police questioning, Truong The Toan, the only Vietnamese referee who officiated in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens is alleged to have taken a bribe of VND25 million (US$1,600), said investigation police yesterday in Hanoi.
According to a police source, referee Luong Trung Viet, arrested two months ago, declared he had colluded with Toan to influence a First Division game in accordance with an ‘order’ from East Asia Bank – Pomina Steel.
FIFA referee Toan was paid VND15 million ($945), and two other unnamed assistant referees each got VND4 million, with two others getting VND2 million, and $126, going toward ‘credit’ for intermediary Luong Trung Viet, who did not referee the game, Viet declared.
Viet later received VND3 million, about $190, from Toan as ‘a tip’.
Police have yet to release the names of the teams involved in the filthy affair, but have announced the refs have already returned the bribe money to authorities.
A policeman in the investigation group said its likely many more thrown matches will come to light in V-League and First Division from last season.
Arrested referee Luong Trung Viet was quoted as saying he wasn’t sure how many games he had influenced, but that he would come clean on anything he could remember.
http://www.thanhniennews.com/sports/?catid=5&newsid=9567
Mr. Truong The Toan and Mr. Le Van Tu
Another Vietnamese football referee, an international FIFA referee no less, is alleged to have taken money to alter the outcome of a First Division game in 2005.
Currently facing police questioning, Truong The Toan, the only Vietnamese referee who officiated in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens is alleged to have taken a bribe of VND25 million (US$1,600), said investigation police yesterday in Hanoi.
According to a police source, referee Luong Trung Viet, arrested two months ago, declared he had colluded with Toan to influence a First Division game in accordance with an ‘order’ from East Asia Bank – Pomina Steel.
FIFA referee Toan was paid VND15 million ($945), and two other unnamed assistant referees each got VND4 million, with two others getting VND2 million, and $126, going toward ‘credit’ for intermediary Luong Trung Viet, who did not referee the game, Viet declared.
Viet later received VND3 million, about $190, from Toan as ‘a tip’.
Police have yet to release the names of the teams involved in the filthy affair, but have announced the refs have already returned the bribe money to authorities.
A policeman in the investigation group said its likely many more thrown matches will come to light in V-League and First Division from last season.
Arrested referee Luong Trung Viet was quoted as saying he wasn’t sure how many games he had influenced, but that he would come clean on anything he could remember.
http://www.thanhniennews.com/sports/?catid=5&newsid=9567