i'm not a big fan of soccer

nor are we as americans anywhere near the fans eurorpeans, asians, south americans, africans and everyone else in the world is. i hang at the half door an irish pub. i know how popular soccer is with everyone ELSE but americans (seems when world cup time comes around everyone hangs at the half door, no just the irish). the crowds that gather for some of the bigger games are unbelievable. i know how rabid these fans are. i know how seriously they take their games AND their teams.

this my dears is NOT going to sit well with them

in all seriousness though, gambling is EVERYWHERE. it's a disease (in my most humble opinion). i've seen what it can do to people, to families.


Raids Expose Soccer Fixing Across Europe

By ROB HUGHES and ERIC PFANNER

BOCHUM, Germany — European law-enforcement officials said Friday that they had arrested the leaders of a far-reaching gambling cartel that is thought to have conspired to influence the outcome of 200 soccer games in nine countries across the continent.

Announcing that 17 people had been arrested — 15 in Germany and 2 in Switzerland — prosecutors said they might have uncovered only the tip of a scandal in which gamblers are accused of bribing players, officials and trainers. The police said they seized more than a million euros (about $1.48 million) in cash and other assets after more than 50 raids Thursday in Germany, Britain, Switzerland and Austria.

Among the games under suspicion are three in the Champions League, the prestigious tournament for Europe’s best teams.

“Without question, this is the biggest betting scandal in the history of European soccer,” said Peter Limacher, the head of discipline for European soccer’s governing body..........

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