Hong Kong's anti-corruption agency and police have dismantled an illegal bookmaking syndicate, arresting 19 people including prominent football coaches.
Two of the 19 people arrested this week have been identified as prominent football coaches. Lo Kwan-yee, head coach of first division champions Supreme, and Poon Man-chun, coach of the under-18 and under-22 teams at Premier League champions Kitchee, were linked to the group.
Principal investigator Bill Ng Siu-kei of the Independent Commission Against Corruption said on Friday that the agency and police had broken up a local syndicate. Eight suspects were arrested for match-fixing, 10 for illegal betting, and one 24-year-old footballer for both offences.
Supreme said in a statement that the team had given their utmost effort in every match over the past three seasons and upheld the spirit of fair competition. Officials said the group had placed illegal bets on local and overseas matches, including games in the World Cup.
