Zheyun Ye
Encyclopedia
Ye Zheyun is a Chinese
business man who is accused of being involved in a Belgian
football
corruption
-and betting scandal in 2005
. Several teams and/or players would have received money from Ye Zheyun to influence match results
, so involved gamblers could be certain of a guaranteed gambling profit.
Teams mentioned in the scandal are Lierse, La Louvière, Sint-Truiden, AEC Mons
, Verbroedering Geel
and also Germinal Beerschot. Ye Zheyun always showed up at teams with financial problems, except for Beerschot, who had at that time a crucial match against AEC Mons who were on the verge of relegation. The insinuations about fixed results started after a few matches, on which were heavily betted, with strange events and/or results. Such as e.g. Lierse starting with a reserve team twice unexpectedly. Ye Zheyun had also been manager of Finnish
team AC Allianssi
, due to bankruptcy
a now defunct club who also seemed to suffer from some strange match events at the end of their existence. Police investigated the case but found no sufficient evidence.
The Belgian football association was heavily criticised by press and football fans for their indolent investigation about the whole case. A lot of players and teams were accused of being involved, but in the end only one team (Lierse, relegation to third division
), one coach (Paul Put, lifetime suspension) and one player (Hasan Kacić
, 2 year suspension) were found guilty of match fixing. Lierse and Kacić appealed against this verdict and eventually, on March 17, they were acquitted.
Ye Zheyun mostly worked together with Pietro Allatta and Olivier Suray
. Police arrested both, but Allatta and Suray were released after interrogation. On March 16, 2006, the Belgian Justice Department
ordered an international arrest warrant
against Ye Zheyun. It is unknown where he currently remains. May 6, his lawyer
told French
sports paper
L'Équipe
that Ye Zheyun denied all accusations and that he was residing somewhere in China.
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
business man who is accused of being involved in a Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
corruption
Political corruption
Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...
-and betting scandal in 2005
2005-06 in Belgian football
The 2005-2006 season was the 112th competitive season in Belgian football.-Overview:For the first season since 2000, the football fancard is not needed to see a first division game. Tickets for matches can now be purchased with a single ID card and on the day of the match, which was not permitted...
. Several teams and/or players would have received money from Ye Zheyun to influence match results
Match fixing
In organised sports, match fixing, game fixing, race fixing, or sports fixing occurs as a match is played to a completely or partially pre-determined result, violating the rules of the game and often the law. Where the sporting competition in question is a race then the incident is referred to as...
, so involved gamblers could be certain of a guaranteed gambling profit.
Teams mentioned in the scandal are Lierse, La Louvière, Sint-Truiden, AEC Mons
R.A.E.C. Mons
R.A.E.C. Mons is a Belgian football club based in Mons, Belgium. The team was promoted to the Belgian Jupiler League recently on 29 May 2011 after beating Waasland-Beveren in a "Winner-Take-All" Test match of the Final Tour of the Belgian second division and has Re-Joined the Top Belgian League...
, Verbroedering Geel
K.F.C. Verbroedering Geel
K.F.C. Verbroedering Geel was a Belgian association football club, from the city of Geel in Antwerp .-History:The club was born in 1912 and registered in 1924 to the Belgian Football Association receiving the matricule n° 395. It played for the first time in the second division in 1985–86...
and also Germinal Beerschot. Ye Zheyun always showed up at teams with financial problems, except for Beerschot, who had at that time a crucial match against AEC Mons who were on the verge of relegation. The insinuations about fixed results started after a few matches, on which were heavily betted, with strange events and/or results. Such as e.g. Lierse starting with a reserve team twice unexpectedly. Ye Zheyun had also been manager of Finnish
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
team AC Allianssi
AC Allianssi
AC Vantaan Allianssi was a Finnish football club, based in the town of Vantaa.Allianssi have been a club in decline since an 8-0 defeat at fellow Finnish club FC Haka. The match was believed to have been fixed by a Belgian-Chinese betting cartel, which took control of the club in summer 2005...
, due to bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
a now defunct club who also seemed to suffer from some strange match events at the end of their existence. Police investigated the case but found no sufficient evidence.
The Belgian football association was heavily criticised by press and football fans for their indolent investigation about the whole case. A lot of players and teams were accused of being involved, but in the end only one team (Lierse, relegation to third division
Belgian Third Division
The Belgian Third Division is the third highest level in Belgian football. It has two leagues of 18 teams each at the same level. This competition, known as the Belgian Promotion was first played in the 1926-27 season with three leagues, then with four leagues between 1931 and 1952. From 1952...
), one coach (Paul Put, lifetime suspension) and one player (Hasan Kacić
Hasan Kacić
Hasan Kacić is a Croatian football defender of Bosnian descent, currently playing for Croatian First Division side NK Istra 1961.He also played for Slaven Belupo and Belgian First Division side Lierse.-External links:...
, 2 year suspension) were found guilty of match fixing. Lierse and Kacić appealed against this verdict and eventually, on March 17, they were acquitted.
Ye Zheyun mostly worked together with Pietro Allatta and Olivier Suray
Olivier Suray
Olivier Suray is a retired Belgian professional footballer who played for several clubs in Europe. In 2006, he was implicated in a match-fixing scandal involving Chinese business executive Zheyun Ye.-Club career:...
. Police arrested both, but Allatta and Suray were released after interrogation. On March 16, 2006, the Belgian Justice Department
FPS Justice Belgium
The FPS Justice , formerly the Ministry of Justice, is a Federal Public Service of Belgium. It was created by Royal Order on May 23, 2001, as part of the plans of the first Verhofstadt Government to modernise the federal administration...
ordered an international arrest warrant
Arrest warrant
An arrest warrant is a warrant issued by and on behalf of the state, which authorizes the arrest and detention of an individual.-Canada:Arrest warrants are issued by a judge or justice of the peace under the Criminal Code of Canada....
against Ye Zheyun. It is unknown where he currently remains. May 6, his lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
told French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
sports paper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
L'Équipe
L'Équipe
L'Équipe is a French nationwide daily newspaper devoted to sports, owned by Éditions Philippe Amaury. The paper is noted for coverage of football , rugby, motorsports and cycling...
that Ye Zheyun denied all accusations and that he was residing somewhere in China.