Unlawful sports betting and match manipulation in tennis land Bulgarian referee in 16-year suspension
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced on January 15, 2024 that Bulgarian tennis referee Stefan Milanov has been barred from participating in tennis tournaments for 16 years and is required to pay a penalty of $75,000 (roughly €69,000).
Multiple Infractions and Lack of Collaboration
A sum of 17 infringements of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP) against Milanov were claimed, according to the official announcement related to the case [English link].
In 2022, Milanov had previously served a six-month ban for placing wagers on several tennis matches, including one where he was the referee.
In the present situation, the accusations are more severe as Milanov is suspected of not only betting but additionally of tampering with or delaying the entry of results and match data, which could have granted others financial gain.
Moreover, Milanov's absence of cooperation was a contributing element in independent hearing officer Amani Khalifa issuing such a lengthy ban and substantial fine.
The ITIA has continued enforcing bans against tennis officials, following the censure of four individuals at the beginning of January.
Why Can't Insiders in Tennis Wager?
The guidelines of the TACP explicitly specify who is disqualified from wagering on tennis matches:
No one with a stake in the game may directly or indirectly wager on the result or any other facet of an event or other tennis competition. – TACP 2024, Section D.1.a, Source: ITIA
Players, coaches, individuals close to them, referees, and other officials fall under the category of involved persons. The rationale behind this is that these individuals may have easier access to confidential information unavailable to bookmakers.
For instance, if a player informs their best friend through WhatsApp that they threw up earlier today, that friend has now become an involved person. While many such violations may be challenging for the ITIA to trace, it seems that investigators are progressively allocating resources to identifying suspected cases.
Milanov is Totally Prohibited
During the suspension, Milanov will be prohibited from officiating at tennis events or participating in any organizational function. Even attending tournaments is forbidden for him.
The sentence applies to all ITF, ATP, and WTA competitions, as well as any other organizations and associations affiliated with the ITIA. Consequently, it is almost impossible for Milanov to be involved in any tournament with bets that can be placed at sports betting providers for the next 16 years.
Despite the ban, some onlinecasinos in Germany might still advertise tennis tournaments for betting, unaware of Milanov's involvement. It's crucial for these platforms to implement strict regulations and regularly update their databases to avoid promoting events with banned officials.
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