Earned millions on “contract” games: criminal groups included former world-class athletes

Law enforcement officers exposed criminal groups that organized contractual matches in cyber football, cyber basketball, table tennis, football, and basketball, earning millions of hryvnias. This was reported by the National Police, according to UNN.

"Cyber police and investigators of the National Police under the procedural guidance of the Prosecutor General's Office with the assistance of the National Sports Integrity Platform coordinated by the Ministry of Youth and Sports exposed several criminal groups. The defendants organized contractual matches in cyber football, cyber basketball, table tennis, football, basketball for further obtaining illegal benefits through bookmakers," the statement said.

It is noted that in order to expand influence among esportsmen, attract more online fans and money bets, the organizers enlisted the support of famous people who had achievements in real sports, so that tens of thousands of people could watch online broadcasts of "custom" matches on the Internet at the same time.

The group's members include former world-class athletes who used their connections acquired over the years to organize "contractual" matches between esports players from Australia, Europe, and Ukraine.

"Thus, as a result of international cooperation with Australian law enforcement, we received information about the illegal activities of the offenders in this country. The police found out that the offenders were forcing players to deliberately lose their online matches by bribery, coercion, intimidation and incitement. The offenders used various methods to put pressure on the participants of the competition. In some cases, athletic persons previously convicted of property crimes were involved to intimidate athletes, including with the use of weapons. So far, about 10 players have been identified as victims in this way. Sometimes they offered a monetary reward for "leaking" matches," law enforcement officers added.

According to preliminary estimates, the profits from such activities could amount to millions of hryvnias. The offenders legalized the proceeds by purchasing and reselling luxury cars, real estate and other assets. Financial transactions were carried out through crypto wallets.

The investigative actions are conducted within the framework of criminal proceedings initiated under Part 5 of Art. 190 (Fraud), Part 3 of Art. 203-2 (Illegal activities in organizing or conducting gambling, lotteries), Part 1, 3 of Art. 369-3 (Illegal influence on the results of official sports competitions), Part 4 of Art. 189 (Extortion) and Part 3 of Art. 209 (Legalization (laundering) of the proceeds of crime). One of the organizers of "contractual" games is suspected of unlawful influence on the results of official sports competitions.

Addendum

There were reports on the Internetthat searches were allegedly conducted in the house of Artem Milevsky, a former football player of Dynamo Kyiv and the Ukrainian national team. However, this information has not yet been officially confirmed.

In September, sports journalist Andriy Piskun posted a video showing law enforcement officers conducting searches in Milevsky's house, which was also attended by his friend, Serhiy Tretyak.

The law enforcement video shows a fragment of the house and a man who looks like Sergei Tretiak, but does not show Milevsky himself. UNN asked law enforcement agencies for a comment, but has not yet received a response on whether Milevsky could be involved in the group.

Later, Milevsky himself reacted to the rumors of the searches with foul language on social media.

And Telegram channels reportedthat "Artem Milevsky is not suspected. He is being held as a witness".

Recall

The National Police, with the assistance of Ukrzaliznytsia , is conducting investigative actions in the case of officials' abuse of international passenger transportation.