Tennis Chilean Player, Italian Judge Latest Investigated For Match-Rigging

Posted on: July 20, 2022, 11:04h. 

Last updated on: July 21, 2022, 02:29h.

Erik Gibbs Read More
Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Gaming Business, Global Gaming.

Over the past several months, several tennis players and umpires received bans for match-fixing. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) recently added a Chilean tennis player and an Italian judge to the list.

Michel Vernier Quinteros
Chilean tennis player Michel Vernier Quinteros practicing on a court. The ITIA has suspended him following his admission that he rigged matches. (Image: Bola Amarela)

Chile’s Michel Vernier Quinteros received a suspension of seven years and five months after admitting that he rigged the outcome of a tennis match. The ITIA just handed down the decision, backdating the ban to March 31. As a result, the 29-year-old player is off the official tennis circuit until August 30, 2029.

The ITIA is also investigating a chair umpire who allegedly manipulated the outcome of matches. Francesco Totaro is taking an involuntary break from tennis during the investigation, effective from June 22.

However, while this list grows, the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) reported just 88 cases of suspicious betting activity across all sports to the relevant authorities in the second quarter of this year. Compared to the number of games and matches occurring at any given moment, this number is extremely low.

Chilean Tennis Player Out for Seven Years

At one point, Quinteros ranked 664 in the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) rankings. However, he recently admitted to accepting cash in exchange for match-fixing in 2018 and not reporting corruption.

As a result, the ITIA found him guilty under four different sections of its rules. The organization, among other things, prohibits players from soliciting wagers on the outcome of matches and from not giving 100% on the court.

In addition, players cannot accept any type of compensation to throw matches and must inform the ITIA if someone requests that they do. Quinteros failed on all four counts.

Italian Ump On Forced Leave

Totaro was a green badge chair judge, which means he had risen in the ranks enough to oversee official matches anywhere in Italy. However, for now, his only involvement with tennis will be as a spectator at home or in the stands.

The ITIA is conducting the investigation. It has not officially accused Totaro of any wrongdoing. However, per its rules and regulations, it has the right to suspend anyone it believes may have facilitated match-fixing. The organization will likely hold a formal hearing after gathering more evidence before issuing its verdict.

A week ago, the ITIA took out three judges from Tunisia for rigging matches. The trio held various badges at different levels of contests and manipulated the outcome of between four and 12 contests.