Hong Kong authorities have arrested 19 people, including football players and coaches, following a joint anti-corruption and law enforcement operation targeting an alleged match-fixing and illegal betting network linked to the local football community.
The operation, codenamed “Double-edged,” was carried out on June 23 by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) and the Hong Kong Police Force. Investigators said the group is suspected of running an illegal bookmaking operation covering both local and overseas football matches, including games connected to the ongoing World Cup, while also bribing players to influence the outcomes of domestic fixtures.
Officials said the investigation began after evidence emerged during a separate corruption inquiry involving football match manipulation. Subsequent inquiries led authorities to individuals believed to be central figures in the alleged criminal operation.
Players and Coaches Accused in Match Manipulation Scheme
The ICAC arrested nine men between the ages of 22 and 49 as part of the investigation. One of those individuals was also detained by police. The group included two coaches and seven football players.
Among the coaches were one linked to a Hong Kong First Division club and another associated with a Hong Kong Premier League under-22 team. Authorities said one of the coaches also worked as a betting agent. The footballers included players representing three First Division clubs, while another suspect was identified as a former player who allegedly became involved in illegal betting activities.
Investigators believe members of the group violated Hong Kong’s Prevention of Bribery Ordinance by arranging payments to influence the results of local matches. According to the ICAC, irregular betting-related activity was detected in at least four First Division matches across the 2024/25 and 2025/26 seasons, along with one under-22 fixture during the 2025/26 campaign.
Principal investigator Bill Ng Siu-kei said the network relied on individuals with connections to the sport.
“They have used people related to the local football sector to receive bets, and used footballers’ networks and corruption to fix local matches for profit,” Ng said.
Authorities allege that some suspects collected illegal wagers and directed part of the proceeds toward bribing players involved in targeted matches.
“For example, a footballer who was also a bookie would receive hundreds of thousands of illegal bets. He would use some of these bets to bribe another player to fix a local First Division match,” Ng said. “This would cause legal bettors to lose, while those betting with the illegal betting syndicate could hedge their bets for a guaranteed profit.”
Ng added that certain players and coaches allegedly performed dual roles within the operation by handling bets while also recruiting others to participate in match manipulation.
Police Target Illegal Bookmaking Operation
Alongside the corruption arrests, police detained nine men and two women between the ages of 24 and 58 on suspicion of involvement in illegal betting activities. Authorities said five of those arrested were believed to be core members of the organization, while six others were suspected gamblers. Several active football players were among those detained.
Police searches covered an office, residential properties, and a football club office in Mong Kok. During the operation, officers seized HK$120,000 in cash, suspected betting slips, electronic devices, and other materials. Investigators said transaction records related to illegal wagers were discovered on some of the confiscated devices.
According to Superintendent Chiew Tsi-huen of the Organized Crime and Triad Bureau, the syndicate created numerous accounts on illegal gambling platforms and distributed them to trusted associates, including football players who managed betting funds and accepted wagers from acquaintances.
“They would even recruit people they were familiar with in the football scene to make illegal bets,” Chiew said.
Authorities believe the operation had been active for approximately two to three years and processed more than HK$6 million in illegal wagers. The betting activity allegedly covered professional and amateur football matches in Hong Kong and overseas, including World Cup fixtures.
Police said they believe the arrests have dismantled the syndicate and disrupted its revenue stream, although investigations remain ongoing and additional arrests have not been ruled out.
Authorities Emphasize Sports Integrity and Gambling Laws
The ICAC said it continues to pursue a broader strategy aimed at protecting the integrity of local sports through enforcement, prevention efforts, and educational initiatives. As part of that work, the agency has issued corruption prevention guidance for national sports associations and conducts integrity training programs for footballers, particularly younger players.
The agency also acknowledged assistance from the Football Association of Hong Kong, China in identifying suspicious activity linked to matches under review.
Officials used the case to remind residents about penalties associated with illegal gambling. Under Hong Kong law, illegal bookmaking can result in a prison sentence of up to seven years and a fine of HK$5 million. Authorities also warned that participation in gambling operations may constitute an offence even when betting websites are located outside Hong Kong. Individuals who place bets with bookmakers can face fines of up to HK$50,000 and imprisonment for up to nine months.
The arrests come during a period of heightened scrutiny surrounding football-related gambling activity. Earlier this month, Hong Kong police announced the arrest of 150 people in connection with illegal online betting involving more than HK$320 million. Law enforcement officials have previously identified major international tournaments such as the World Cup as periods when illegal betting activity typically increases.
The issue has also drawn attention elsewhere in the region. In mainland China, authorities recently imposed penalties on 13 football clubs over match-fixing and illegal betting violations, while dozens of individuals received lifetime bans from football-related activities following separate investigations.