Match Fixing? -- Following an announcement in May from anti-mafia police in Naples that 12 Italian football clubs from Serie A, B and C were under investigation for mafia-related match fixing, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) last Monday ordered 33 people and 12 football clubs to face a sporting tribunal. The tribunal will commence sometime after Aug. 15 and complete its proceedings before the season starts on Sept. 12. Police investigators, who are continuing a separate investigation, claim to possess tape-recorded evidence of telephone conversations proving that at least three AC Siena players were involved in fixing, but so far all 33 of the implicated individuals deny any wrongdoing. Any of the players, coaches or club executives found guilty by the tribunal could face fines or bans from football, and any guilty clubs could also face fines or relegation or could have some of their points docked.
TradingSports Moving -- AIM-listed betting exchange network provider TradingSports Exchange Systems is moving its headquarters from London to Glasgow. The move is part of a recovery plan that also includes raising £4.5 million through a private placement that will give former bond trader Terry Ramsden a 12 percent stake in the company. Ray Ranson, a former Birmingham football player, will also purchase shares under the private placement, and both men will play a significant role in the company's future business developments. The company's headquarters will relocate to West of Scotland Science Park, where its technology division already resides. A strategic review of the company's business, which was ordered in June by chief executive Roger Mitchell, who was taking over for Joe Tighe, recommended the consolidation of the two divisions. The company may also change its name to The Trading Exchange to suggest that its system allows trading on more than sports bets.
Poker Newcomer -- Steve Morrow, co-director of the 2002 World Series of Poker and former poker room manager for PokerStars.com, has formed Paradigm Poker Consultants, Inc., a company that will offer its expertise and knowledge to new and developing poker rooms. The company's corporate Web site also serves as an online poker portal, with tournament updates, news and more.
£1 Million Game -- Just in time for the new season, British bookmaker Ladbrokes has created a new soccer betting game that gives punters the opportunity to stake £2 to win £1 million by correctly predicting the score of 20 Premier League or Football League matches. The game, which will be promoted with the slogan "Play it, win it, live it," is the first by a U.K. bookmaker to offer a prize so large.