The Cheat Sheet is the Sports and Crime Briefing’s weekly guide to match fixing, illegal betting, corruption, safeguarding and criminal cases across sport. Organised by sport and country, it gives you the news, the background and links to the reporting behind each story.
Norway’s FIFA complaints over the Falorin Balogun red card, US gymnastics sanctions and Brazil’s betting shutdown lead this week’s coverage. Elsewhere, British PM Andy Burnham promises to disclose his dealings with Manchester City and the US Congress investigates the Amateur Athletic Union’s (AAU) handling of child-abuse allegations.
Football
Argentina and Spain
Nine footballers report recruitment scam after travelling to Madrid
Nine footballers from Córdoba say they paid around US$5,000 each to pursue promised club contracts in Madrid, only to discover they lacked the residence documents needed to register. Their accounts were broadcast on 7 October. The group included four women and a minor, and had been promised accommodation, food and wages. Their families reported alleged organiser Claudio Asteggiano to Argentina’s consulate.
Austria
Three charged over alleged fixing of Stadl-Paura cup match
Three people face fraud charges over Stadl-Paura’s 7–1 cup defeat by Austria Klagenfurt in August 2020 and an alleged attempt to fix another match, according to reporting on 8 October. Klagenfurt prosecutors accuse a former football official, a former player and a former sponsor of offering players overdue wages and bonuses to cooperate. The South Korean former sponsor denies the allegations; one defendant has partly admitted involvement.
Brazil
STJD closes Lucho Acosta match-manipulation inquiry
Fluminense midfielder Lucho Acosta will not face a sporting prosecution over a yellow card against Bragantino on 17 July. Brazil’s sports tribunal closed its inquiry after finding no evidence that he benefited from related betting, according to reporting on 8 October. An alert over unusual betting volumes had prompted the two-and-a-half-month investigation. The case could be reopened if new evidence emerges.
Investigation exposes alleged sale of false coaching certificates
Alejandro Mancuso allegedly offered established footballers four Argentine coaching licences for around US$20,000 without the required training, a UOL investigation published on 7 October reports. Argentina’s coaching association, ATFA, says he had no authority to represent it and rejects the documents. Mancuso denies selling licences or receiving money, saying he only passed on contacts. Buyers told reporters they believed they were paying for valid courses or recognition of their playing careers.
Djibouti
Club presidents replace federation leadership amid police intervention
Club delegates voted to remove Souleiman Hassan Waberi and the football federation’s governing committee on 5 October, according to state news agency ADI. An interim committee was appointed to oversee the transition. ADI says 39 delegates participated and the required quorum was met. Police occupied the headquarters and removed the outgoing administration, the Guardian reported; the federation disputes the assembly’s legality.
Ecuador
LigaPro confirms inquiry into several Serie B fixtures
LigaPro is investigating the integrity of several Serie B matches involving one club, the league confirmed on 8 October. It has not named the club, identified the fixtures or disclosed what prompted the inquiry. The findings will go to the relevant disciplinary bodies; no player has been publicly accused and no sanction has been announced.
England
Southampton manager receives suspended six-week ban for training surveillance
Southampton manager Tonda Eckert admitted directing or authorising surveillance of three rival clubs’ training sessions. An independent FA commission fined him about US$37,000 on 7 October and imposed a reprimand and a suspended six-week ban. The breaches involved Oxford United, Ipswich Town and Middlesbrough between December 2025 and May 2026. The ban will take effect if he commits a further breach involving information obtained by observing another club’s training before the end of 2027/28.
Everton’s Martin Sherif fined about US$6,600 over 61 football bets
Everton forward Martin Sherif was fined about US$6,600 on 8 October after admitting responsibility for 61 football bets between November 2024 and February 2026. He admitted causing, permitting or enabling the bets, while maintaining that he did not place them himself. The independent FA commission took his early admission, cooperation and remorse into account.
Estonia
Maardu withdraws from licensed football during fixing investigation
Maardu Linnameeskond is leaving all licensed football in Estonia amid criminal and sporting investigations into its abandoned September match against FC Tallinn. The second-tier club announced its withdrawal on 5 October and is losing its licence. Its completed results will stand, while remaining fixtures will be forfeited. Three people linked to the club remain suspended during the federation’s disciplinary investigation.
Germany
Youth football coach convicted of assaulting players
A youth football coach was convicted of multiple assaults by Aurich’s district court on 6 October. Prosecutors had accused him of 93 offences, including assault and sexual harassment, arising from his coaching work between 2022 and 2024. The court confirmed the assault convictions and ordered measures under German youth justice law. It withheld details of those measures, citing the closed proceedings and protection of those involved.
Ghana
Opposition challenges staff identities in World Cup visa applications
Ghana’s parliamentary opposition says most of the 102 people presented as National Sports Authority staff in World Cup visa applications could not be verified. On 7 October, it said only 15 names checked out and alleged that applicants were given job titles absent from the authority’s structure. The caucus called for scrutiny of personnel files, embassy correspondence and payments. The NSA denies authorising a visa-collection scheme. Police are investigating visa facilitation.
Iran
Coach detained after sexual-abuse complaints at children’s football club
A coach at a children’s football club in Divandarreh has been detained over alleged sexual abuse and production of obscene recordings, Kurdistan judicial authorities announced on 9 October. Officials confirmed five complaints and referred the case to the provincial criminal court for further investigation. The local football board confirmed that the suspect worked as a coach.
Italy
FIGC sets fresh election after questions over Malagò’s eligibility
Italy’s football federation will hold fresh elections on 14 December after questions over Giovanni Malagò’s eligibility in June. He was not a federation member when elected. On 6 October, CONI placed FIGC under extraordinary administration and appointed Malagò as commissioner to run daily operations while new elections are organised. FIGC announced the election date on 9 October; members will choose a president and federal council.
Kazakhstan
Coach jailed over football-trip fraud exceeding about US$53,500
A football coach has been jailed for three years and two months after taking parents’ money for a children’s tournament trip to Spain that never happened. An Astana court convicted him of fraud, according to reporting on 8 October. Losses exceeded about US$53,500. The report, citing broadcaster 24KZ, says the money was recovered from him.
Nepal
Police seek charges over alleged misuse of ANFA funds
Nepal’s Central Investigation Bureau has recommended prosecuting four football federation officials over alleged financial irregularities exceeding about US$43,000. Police submitted their report on 7 October, naming ANFA president Pankaj Bikram Nembang, general secretary Kiran Rai, treasurer Rabindra Joshi and accountant Sanjiv Pandey. The investigation covered federation finances and match-related activities. Prosecutors will decide whether to file charges.
Norway
Federation files ethics and governance complaints against FIFA
Norway’s football federation filed two formal complaints on 6 October challenging FIFA’s ethics and governance. They concern its Peace Prize, the lifting of Folarin Balogun’s World Cup suspension and the abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise investment proposal. The ethics complaint asks for scrutiny of Gianni Infantino and other individuals; the governance referral concerns financial oversight and decision-making. FIFA said the matters would be addressed at its 15 October council meeting.
Russia
Torpedo co-owner partly admits guilt in referee-bribery trial
Torpedo Moscow co-owner Leonid Sobolev partly admitted guilt on 5 October in a trial over alleged attempts to influence second-tier matches by bribing referees. Asked by Moscow’s Simonovsky District Court whether he accepted the charges, he gave a partial admission but did not explain which allegations he accepted. The Russian football federation had excluded Torpedo from the Premier League over attempted match-fixing.
Serbia
UEFA restricts home support after racist and discriminatory conduct
Serbia’s home match against Germany on 13 November will be played without adult home supporters after UEFA sanctions for racist and discriminatory crowd behaviour. Children and visiting supporters may attend. The 9 October decision concerns Nations League fixtures against Greece and the Netherlands and includes a fine of about US$56,000 for the home crowd’s conduct. Additional penalties bring the fines to about US$145,100 and bar ticket sales to Serbia supporters for the next away match.
Turkey
Two more referees remanded on separate criminal allegations
Two more referees were remanded in custody on 5 October in Turkey’s wider refereeing investigation. Prosecutors allege that Süper Lig referee Yasin Kol was involved in match-fixing and incentive payments, while assistant referee Göktuğ Hazar Erel is accused of official-document forgery. Their detention follows that of refereeing chief Ferhat Gündoğdu and four others. The two referees face different allegations.
Across sports
Brazil
Betting platforms close as blocking referrals reach 16,627 domains
Previously authorised betting platforms ceased operations on 6 October under Brazil’s September ban on fixed-odds betting. By 9 October, the justice ministry had referred 16,627 illegal betting and advertising sites for blocking and identified more than 20,000 related social-media pages, groups and profiles. Banks began returning customer balances on 9 October, with refunds due by 14 October. The latest ministry bulletin put outstanding balances at about US$247.8 million across 26.3 million bettors.
Treasury investigates unusually large balances in about 40 betting accounts
Brazil has halted automatic refunds for around 40 betting accounts while authorities investigate possible money laundering, finance minister Dario Durigan announced on 6 October. Some accounts held more than about US$99,900 or US$199,800 as platforms closed. Investigators are examining where the money came from and whether it is linked to criminal groups.
Treasury probes betting platforms’ deductions for promotional bonuses
Brazil’s Treasury is investigating 14 betting platforms over allegedly understated revenue, reporting on 11 October disclosed. The inquiry examines whether operators deducted promotional bonuses that customers could not freely withdraw because they carried wagering conditions. Folha identified Blaze among the operators, with a potential shortfall of about US$19.2 million in taxes and mandatory social contributions under examination. Its operator, Foggo Entertainment, says its calculations follow regulations and official guidance and that it will answer authorities’ questions.
Federal court overturns Stake’s exemption from betting shutdown
Stake Brasil lost its temporary exemption from Brazil’s betting shutdown on 9 October. The Federal Regional Court of the Third Region suspended an injunction granted the previous day that would have allowed it to operate until 25 October. The federal solicitor’s office had appealed. The court president said allowing one platform to operate while others were restricted would undermine the ban. Separate challenges to the national measure remain before the Supreme Court.
Fourteen betting-lawsuit defendants also appear in parliamentary records
Fourteen companies targeted by Brazil’s betting lawsuit also appeared in the earlier parliamentary betting inquiry’s records, an Agência Pública analysis published on 7 October found. The government’s September claim targets 17 companies linked to 20 brands and seeks about US$199.8 million in collective damages, plus reimbursement of health costs. The parliamentary records include legitimate authorisations as well as allegations, so appearing in them does not itself establish wrongdoing.
Government asks Supreme Court to preserve betting prohibition
Brazil’s government asked the Supreme Court on 5 October to uphold the ban on fixed-odds betting. The federal solicitor’s office was responding to challenges by two industry associations before Justice Luiz Fux. It argued that the previous system had failed to control authorisations, enforcement, advertising and money laundering.
Canada
Ottawa announces about US$4.99 million for sports safeguarding
Canada announced about US$4.99 million for sports safeguarding in 2026/27 on 7 October. The package includes about US$3.51 million for Sport Integrity Canada’s independent complaints programme and US$105,400 for educational resources and a legal-advice service. The Sport Dispute Resolution Centre will receive about US$1.36 million, including support to expand legal aid and keep its safeguarding tribunal free to use.
Japan
Police refer further alleged theft from Saitama sports association
Saitama police referred an additional alleged embezzlement of about US$108,200 to prosecutors on 8 October in the case against a former Saitama City Sports Association employee. The 36-year-old had already been indicted for embezzlement and was dismissed in September. The new referral concerns money allegedly taken from association accounts. Police say it completes their investigation into the reported losses.
Malaysia
Lower house passes sports-governance amendments
Malaysia’s lower house passed the Sports Development Amendment Bill on 6 October. The proposal would give the Sports Commissioner power to require registered sports bodies to bring their constitutions into line with the law. It also strengthens enforcement, regulates the handling of assets when registration is cancelled and addresses safeguarding.
United States
Congress opens inquiry into AAU’s handling of child-abuse allegations
US lawmakers opened an inquiry into the Amateur Athletic Union’s handling of child-abuse allegations on 7 October. Leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Committee requested records on complaints, investigations, enforcement of coaching bans and child-protection training after reporting by ProPublica and the Washington Post. They also sought a briefing from AAU president Jo Mirza by 21 October. The AAU said it would cooperate with congressional requests.
Lawmakers demand FanDuel’s personalised celebrity videos and VIP records
Senator Richard Blumenthal and representatives Paul Tonko and Valerie Foushee demanded further FanDuel records on 6 October after the sportsbook acknowledged sending around 30 personalised celebrity videos to VIP customers. The inquiry follows a Bryce Harper message sent to a bettor who had lost US$1.5 million. Lawmakers want the videos and details of customer selection and gambling-harm checks. FanDuel describes the messages as customer-appreciation gestures and denies using them to induce further gambling.
American football
United States
NFL asks Supreme Court to resolve prediction-market oversight dispute
The NFL asked the Supreme Court on 8 October to review New Jersey’s dispute over regulation of sports prediction markets. In a supporting brief, the league argued that federal oversight lacks protections used in state-regulated betting, including restrictions on insider wagering, vulnerable bet types and access by under-21s. The federal regulator, the CFTC, says it sought cooperation through an agreement the league declined to sign.
Athletics
France
Wilfried Happio receives suspended prison sentence for domestic violence
Hurdler Wilfried Happio received a six-month suspended prison sentence on 7 October for violence against his former partner. Créteil’s criminal court also ordered about US$2,240 in damages and prohibited contact with her or visits to her home. Happio admitted verbal abuse but denied physical violence at the hearing. The French athletics federation had opened disciplinary proceedings and referred the matter to prosecutors in 2024 after her account appeared in the press.
Romania
Athletics federation introduces safeguarding rules and provisional restrictions
Romania’s athletics federation published new safeguarding rules on 9 October, allowing immediate provisional restrictions on licences or participation when concerns require action. The policy sets out how to report and discipline abuse, harassment, neglect and exploitation. It covers children, elite and para-athletes, other vulnerable participants, coaches, officials and support staff.
Australian rules football
Australia
Man charged over food thrown at woman and child at AFL final
Victoria Police announced on 8 October that a 34-year-old Seaford man had been charged with two counts of aggravated assault and one count of throwing a missile. The charges concern a plate of food allegedly thrown at a 47-year-old woman and an eight-year-old child after the AFL preliminary final on 19 September. Neither was physically injured. He has been summoned to Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 18 March 2027.
Basketball
Taiwan
Coach accused of offences involving 53 children kept in custody
A Taipei primary-school basketball coach accused of offences involving 53 children will remain in custody for two further months from 13 October. The Shilin District Court’s decision was reported on 6 October. Prosecutors allege production of sexual images and sexual assaults. The coach admitted the charged conduct during court questioning. Judges refused release because of the seriousness of the allegations and risks of flight and repeated offending.
United States
Earnest plans guilty pleas in NBA betting and rigged-poker cases
Eric Earnest intends to plead guilty in the NBA-linked betting case and a parallel rigged-poker case, federal prosecutors announced on 6 October. His plea hearing is scheduled for 22 October. The betting case alleges that a syndicate used confidential injury information and advance knowledge of players’ intended conduct to defraud sportsbooks. Earnest faces conspiracy charges involving wire fraud and money laundering.
Boxing
Thailand
Court refuses Atchariya bail in boxing-betting and fraud inquiry
Activist Atchariya Ruangrattanapong was refused bail on 5 October after police alleged that money received through his crime-victims association went into personal accounts and boxing gambling. Bangkok’s Criminal Court authorised an initial 12 days in custody, citing risks of flight and interference with evidence. Police are investigating alleged public fraud, computer offences, money laundering and unlicensed gambling.
Cricket
India
Further arrests bring interstate betting case to nine suspects
An interstate betting investigation by Vasai police has reached nine arrests after two alleged organisers were intercepted on 5 October. Six suspects had earlier been detained in Goa due to suspicious betting activity during an India–Pakistan match on 3 October. Reporting on 9 October describes accounts and SIM cards obtained in other people’s names to move gambling funds. Police seized 63 phones, seven laptops, 70 SIM cards and 58 bank cards.
Six remanded after raid on alleged Kharar betting operation
Six people were arrested in a raid on a Kharar flat suspected of housing a cricket-betting operation, according to reports on 8 and 9 October. Police seized 34 phones, six laptops, around 60 bank cards and other property from the Sector 115 address. A court authorised three days of police custody while investigators examined the network and its associates.
Sri Lanka
Government introduces bill to establish new cricket-governance framework
Sri Lanka’s sports minister introduced a bill on 6 October to put cricket administration on a new statutory footing. The Sri Lanka Cricket Bill sets out the body’s proposed powers to govern, regulate and develop the sport. Its stated aims include protecting participants’ welfare and preventing corruption and improper conduct. Parliament’s record lists it at first reading.
Dance sport
Netherlands
Prosecutors seek enforceable teaching ban during dance-abuse appeal
Dutch prosecutors are seeking an immediately enforceable ban on a dance teacher working with minors while his abuse conviction is appealed. Their request, made on 8 October, concerns abuse of two young members of a competitive formation team. The five-year professional ban imposed at trial has not taken effect because of the appeal. Prosecutors acknowledged that the original wording was inadequate and now seek a restriction that could remain enforceable through any further appeal.
Gymnastics
United States
SafeSport bans Artur Akopyan and suspends Galina Marinova
SafeSport has permanently barred former US national-team coach Artur Akopyan and suspended fellow coach Galina Marinova for one year, according to reporting on 8 and 9 October. Akopyan’s decision, dated 7 October, records physical and emotional misconduct, sexual harassment and sexual misconduct. Both coaches worked at California’s All Olympia Gymnastics Center and had faced longstanding abuse allegations. Akopyan retains a right to appeal.
Horse racing
Tunisia
Police detain suspected organiser of unlicensed horse-racing bets
Police in Tunis detained a man suspected of running unlicensed horse-racing betting, according to reporting on 9 October. Bab Bhar officers seized cash, cards and betting slips believed to be linked to the operation. Prosecutors authorised his continued custody while the investigation proceeds.
Mixed martial arts
Kazakhstan
Coach remanded for two months after abuse complaints from young pupils
An MMA coach in Konaev was remanded in custody for two months on 6 October after parents of four girls alleged sexual abuse when their daughters were aged 10–13. Almaty regional police confirmed the decision in reporting published on 8 October. The investigation has been running for almost two years. The coach’s family and lawyers deny wrongdoing and seek his release.
Rugby
France
Cassation appeal challenges conviction over tackle that paralysed Mathias Dantin
The player convicted over the tackle that paralysed Mathias Dantin is challenging his conviction in France’s Court of Cassation, reporting on 5 October disclosed. The tackle occurred at a school rugby tournament in Tarbes in 2022. The Pau appeal court imposed a 12-month suspended sentence on 10 September. The defence argues that the contact was accidental, challenging its classification as intentional violence. Dantin’s family says the further proceedings will delay compensation.
Skiing and snowboarding
Switzerland
Crans-Montana championship chairman resigns amid fraud proceedings
Claude-Alain Schmidhalter resigned as Crans-Montana 2027 championship chairman and Swiss-Ski vice-president on 7 October after his suspension. Valais prosecutors accuse him of fraud and disloyal management in a business dispute involving more than about US$361,000. A hearing is scheduled for 27 October. He denies the allegations, and Swiss-Ski says the case is unrelated to the federation.
Snooker
Scotland
Graeme Dott lodges notice of intention to appeal abuse conviction and sentence
Graeme Dott has notified the courts that he intends to appeal his child-abuse conviction and seven-year prison sentence, the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service confirmed on 9 October. The offences involved two children between 1993–1996 and 2006–2010. Dott maintains his innocence. His professional snooker membership was permanently revoked after the conviction.
Softball
United States
Baltimore County coach pleads guilty to federal child-sex offence
Softball coach Michael Joseph Pusateri pleaded guilty on 6 October to coercion and enticement of a minor. The federal plea concerns a former player whom he coached from childhood and abused through messages and demands for sexual images in 2025. He had separately received a 10-year sentence in the state case involving the same victim. Federal sentencing is scheduled for 9 February 2027, with a mandatory minimum of 10 years.
Swimming
Greece
Chania coach receives suspended reprimand for striking 14-year-old
Greece’s swimming federation ethics committee gave a Chania coach a written reprimand, suspended for one year, for striking a 14-year-old. The decision was reported on 6 October. The committee found that he struck the boy twice during a July team meal but caused no physical injury. It rejected allegations of psychological abuse and neglect, while saying physical discipline of a minor was unacceptable despite the coach’s apology and mitigating circumstances.
Japan
Parents disclose possible second victim in swimming-coach case
A parent disclosed a possible second victim in the Makinohara swimming-school case at a meeting on 8 October. They said their daughter had refused to attend because she had been touched. The school also disclosed that it received a sexual-abuse concern in June but found no confirmation after questioning instructors. The arrested coach was removed from duties in September. The school plans stronger recruitment checks, revised contact rules and a dedicated reporting channel.
Switzerland
Swimmer accepts warning and access restrictions over sexual proposition to minor
A swimmer who also coaches at another club admitted making a sexual proposition to a minor athlete and accepted a Swiss Sport Integrity settlement on 8 October. The case concerned a message sent after a shared training session. He received a warning and agreed to pay about US$241 in investigation costs. While the young athlete remains a club member, he must stay out of team areas and away from swimmers and coaches at competitions unless participating in an official capacity.
Table tennis
China
Three fans receive administrative detention for abusing national-team coaches
Three fans received administrative detention after repeatedly insulting national-team coaches at the WTT China Smash on 6 October, Beijing police announced on 10 October. Police said the fans also circulated hostile comments and recordings online. Seventeen others involved received police admonitions.
Ukraine
Referee admits fixing table-tennis matches for betting profits
A Kyiv court has approved a 24-year-old referee’s guilty plea over fixing table-tennis matches, Ukraine’s cyberpolice announced on 9 October. He offered players US$500–2,000 to lose specified matches so associates could place large bets. Police arrested him during a payment in April. Under the plea agreement, he transferred about US$2,230 to support Ukraine’s armed forces. The announcement did not disclose a prison term.
Taekwondo
France
Coach’s sentence for abusing two teenagers cut to five years on appeal
A taekwondo coach’s prison sentence for rape and sexual assaults involving two teenage girls was reduced from 10 years to five on appeal on 6 October. Nanterre’s appeal assize court heard the case following the original trial in Versailles. The offences occurred between 2018 and 2020 in several French locations.
Tennis
International
UN condemns racist abuse of Coco Gauff as WTA monitors threats
The UN Human Rights office condemned racist abuse directed at Coco Gauff on 10 October following her China Open match against Sun Xinran. Gauff had received abuse after a disputed point was replayed. The WTA says it is supporting her and using its Threat Matrix team to monitor messages, report accounts and seek platform action. The UN statement calls on players, coaches and sports bodies to challenge racial and sexist abuse.
Switzerland
Father and coach warned for offering incentives to his son’s opponent
A tennis coach repeatedly offered money and material incentives to persuade an opponent to lose ranking matches against his son, Swiss Sport Integrity found. The agency warned him on 7 October and ordered him to pay about US$1,800 towards investigation costs. It rejected his explanations that the offers were jokes or misunderstandings and found attempted competition manipulation.
Volleyball
Italy
Turin volleyball coach investigated over alleged abuse of youth players
A 41-year-old volleyball coach near Turin is under investigation for alleged sexual violence and child sexual abuse material, reporting on 9 October disclosed. Five former youth-team players describe requests for intimate images and sexual online interactions when they were aged 15–17; another allegedly received abuse material. Prosecutors cite the authority and psychological influence of his coaching role. He has resigned. Neither he nor his lawyer commented in the report.
United States
Indiana coach faces 26 child-exploitation charges and is placed on leave
Indiana volleyball coach Paul R. Fasshauer was arrested on 6 October and faces 26 felony child-exploitation counts. La Porte County investigators began their inquiry after a Snapchat report reached the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. South Central’s school district placed its girls’ coach on unpaid leave and appointed an interim coach. Officers also searched his home.