Cyprus parliament passes bill to fight match fixing

NICOSIA, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- A new law aimed at fighting match fixing was hailed on Saturday by Cyprus Justice Minister Ionas Nicolaou as a major move forward in the war against what has become a scourge for Cypriot soccer.

"The law gives the tools to competent authorities to fight match fixing that has painted an ugly picture of the game and Cyprus," Nicolaou said in a statement carried by the state radio.

Cyprus has received scores of notifications by FIFA about suspicious betting suggesting match fixing, but no one has been prosecuted so far, apart from several 50,000 euro fines imposed on football clubs.

Authorities were unable to solve about a score of bomb attacks aimed at referees or Cypriot Football Association officials during the last two years.

The new law, which was passed by a majority on Friday after having been under parliamentary scrutiny for almost a year, makes match fixing an offence punishable by seven years in prison and a 100,000 euro fine.

It also provides for a five-year jail sentence and a 100,000 euro fine for people found guilty of bribing officials and athletes.

The law bans betting by athletes, club officials, referees, and members of the football association, and offers protection to athletes who blow the whistle on match fixing and bans termination of their contract. Enditem