Three men, including a head coach and a player of two local football clubs, have been charged for match-fixing to facilitate profiting from illegal gambling, the anti-graft watchdog said Wednesday.
Chiu Chung-man, 54, who was a betting agent with Ho Sze-hon, 45, shared one count of conspiracy to bet with a bookmaker, while Liang Ngai-tung, 19, was charged with one count of betting with a bookmaker.
The trio were released on ICAC bail. The cases will be mentioned at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts on Thursday (Jun 27).
Chiu was the head coach of Hong Kong Rangers FC, currently competing in the top-tier league Hong Kong Premier League, while Liang is a defender of Sham Shui Po Sports Association – a club that is competing in Hong Kong First Division, the city’s second-tiered league.
In the 2023/24 football season, Biu Chun Rangers, SSPSA, Eastern Sports Club Football Team (Eastern FC) and HK U23 Football Team (HKU23) competed in the Hong Kong Premier League. Betting on local matches is strictly prohibited.
Chiu and Ho allegedly conspired to place bets with a bookmaker on December 30, 2023 in the JC Sapling Cup match held between SSPSA and HKU23.
It is also alleged that between May 30 and June 5 this year, Liang placed numerous bets with a bookmaker through a mobile application, including placing bets in the Football Association Cup match held between SSPSA and Eastern FC on June 1, 2024.
