Spanish Football League Sets Up New Anti-Corruption Unit

After issues with match-fixing and illegal betting, the Spanish football league, the Liga de Fútbol Profesional, has set up a new anti-corruption unit.

The Spanish league has always come up as a hot topic in the world of football, and while it’s often the Real Madrid vs. Barça that makes the headlines or inspires a little friendly flutter with online sportsbooks in Spain and abroad, it appears there is a darker side to the game.

With recent issues in match-fixing and illegal betting, the new anti-corruption unit hopes to cull “mafia” influences and gaming that is in violation of Spanish gambling laws. Manuel Quintanar will head up the new unit as the director general.

New anti-corruption unit seeks to combat match-fixing and illegal betting taking place in the Spanish football league

Quintanar has proposed that stronger sentences should be handed out to those involved in the corruption of the Spanish league and that his new unit will help to uncover activities of illegal gambling and match fixing within the country.

The president of the LFP, Javier Tabas, said that at least eight matches in the top two divisions could be fixed each season, since a number of the matches played in recent seasons are coming under suspicion, but no serious measures have been taken yet.

Tebas believes that concern should be focused more on the influence of foreign betting syndicates, rather than the practice of presidents, players or coaches. He also asked for a lifetime ban to those who were involved.