The provided information outlines the legal troubles faced by football coach Paul Put, particularly his involvement in a match-fixing affair dating back to 2004. Here’s a summary of the key points:
- Background: In 2004, Paul Put, while coaching the Belgian club Lierse, became entangled in a large match-fixing scandal.
- Initial Conviction: Following an investigation by the Belgian Football Federation, Put was initially sentenced to disbarment for life in connection to the match-fixing allegations.
- Appeal and Reduction: Put appealed the decision, leading to a reduction in his sentence. The disbarment for life was ultimately reduced to a three-year suspension after his case reached the Supreme Court.
- Upcoming Trial: According to Le Sport/Voetbalmagazine, Paul Put, along with 30 other individuals, is set to face trial before the Brussels criminal court on September 13. The charges include private corruption, participation in a criminal organization, money laundering, and blackmail.
- Match-Fixing Scheme: The allegations stem from the 2004/2005 and 2005/2006 seasons. Chinese businessman Zheyun Ye attempted to manipulate match outcomes by attempting to buy matches of several first and second division clubs, including Lierse, La Louvière, and Geel. Players from other clubs, such as Sint-Truiden and FC Brussels, were also implicated in the corruption.
- Panorama Report: In 2006, the Flemish program “Panorama” aired a report titled “De tackle van de maffia” (“The tackle of the mafia”), shedding light on the extensive network of fraud. Subsequently, Zheyun Ye fled, and he was later found in the Wenzhou region of China, where he had resumed work as a representative of the local chamber of commerce.
The upcoming trial will provide a legal platform for Paul Put and others to address the accusations related to match-fixing, corruption, money laundering, and blackmail during the specified seasons.
