Lou Vincent Exposes Match Fixing Dangers in Sports Worldwide

Former New Zealand cricketer Lou Vincent has raised alarm over the pervasive issue of match fixing in sports, highlighting its reach from professional athletes to young children. Speaking to RNZ Nine to Noon, Vincent, who has a personal history with match fixing, is now collaborating with law enforcement to educate athletes and sports organizations about this escalating threat.

Vincent’s concerns come at a time when international match fixers are increasingly targeting sports people in New Zealand. One notable case involves Clayton Lewis, a former All White, who pled guilty last year to partaking in a ‘yellow-card’ spot fixing scheme while playing for the A-League club Macarthur. This incident underscores the depth of the problem, which Vincent believes can ensnare individuals as young as 10.

Growing Threats and Grooming Tactics

Reflecting on his own experiences, Vincent emphasized the alarming rise in illegal betting practices. He described a “scary” increase in the grooming of young athletes, often from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. “These corruptors will build trust,” he explained, detailing how young players are often sponsored by businessmen who later leverage that support to manipulate them into fixing matches.

Vincent elaborated on the grooming process: “It’s a six or seven year grooming process. So if or when they do make it to the professional league, it’s like, ‘hey, I’ve helped you this far. Now you kind of owe me a favour’.” He characterized these manipulators as “very clever and very manipulating,” stressing the need for education as a vital tool in combating match fixing.

Raising Awareness and The Role of Education

Vincent’s advocacy work includes addressing events like the recent Victorian Police conference, where he discussed strategies for maintaining integrity in sports. He revealed the innovative methods employed by those involved in spot fixing, including the use of drones to capture live events for illegal betting. “Through TV, we’re seeing anything between three and seven seconds’ delay, and that’s quite a lot of time when it comes to betting,” he noted.

The issue extends beyond professional leagues, as Vincent pointed out the vulnerability of lower-level sports due to financial struggles. With decreasing sponsorship and volunteer support, clubs at the grassroots level are increasingly exposed to the risks associated with match fixing. “We’re seeing club cricket, we’re seeing third-fourth grade football. We’re seeing kids’ games livestreamed through the internet,” he said. “Anything that’s live on the internet can be picked up and dragged into these illegal betting sites.”

Vincent believes that New Zealand’s professional sports bodies are at the forefront of combating match fixing through education. They have made strides in providing support to athletes beyond the playing field. “It’s letting them know about the consequences of saying ‘yes’ to this sort of thing. It’s a lifetime sentence. It destroys everything about you as a human being. What for? Just for money?”

His mission is clear: to ensure that young athletes understand the long-term ramifications of their choices, urging them to avoid the path he once took. Vincent’s personal experiences serve as a cautionary tale, illustrating the profound effects of match fixing on both personal and professional lives.