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 Welcome to
the News desk.
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| Undercover police called in to look out for suspicious
betting |
29/10/2007 |
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Alasdair
Sandford
French undercover police have been invited into
this week's Masters Series event in Paris following recent suspicions over
match-fixing in tennis.
Officers
specialising in gambling from the Renseignements Généraux, the
intelligence service of the French police, have been given full accreditation
to roam incognito among the stands and corridors.
More used to
investigating casinos or horse racing, they will be on the lookout for
suspicious betting activity. "We have opened our doors to them as they will
take a fresh look and are anxious to stop an activity they are less familiar
with," said Jean-François Vilotte, director of the French tennis
federation (FFT).
Former top
players have been hired to cast their expert eyes on matches from the stands
and report on any strange behaviour on the court. All singles matches will be
filmed.
Cédric Pioline, co-director of the Paris Masters, said a
player performing badly would not be enough to deduce that he was deliberately
trying to throw a match.
"The guy might have a cold, have had a row
with his wife or had light shining in his eyes when he served," said the former
Wimbledon finalist. "To detect cheating, there must be a preliminary alert into
suspicious cash movements."
The FFT has also joined forces with the
international gaming association European Lotteries, which has undertaken to
use its own surveillance system to keep the federation informed.
Online
gambling is illegal in France, and those involved in the tournament have been
warned they will have their accreditation withdrawn if they are caught placing
a bet on the internet. The measures will be analysed with a view to repeating
them at next year's French Open at Roland Garros.
The ATP has warned
players they must report within 48 hours any approaches to throw matches. The
British No1 Andy Murray believes some matches are being fixed.
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