Bulgaria Criminalizes Match-Fixing, Illegal Betting

The Bulgarian parliament on Thursday made the fixing of football matches and illegal sports betting a crime punishable with up to eight years in jail.

In a move to clean up Bulgaria's sporting image, the parliament adopted an amendment to the penal code which meant that anyone who attempts to bribe sports officials faces fines of up to 15,000 leva (7,500 Euros, $10,700) and six years in prison.

Attempts to influence officials and players by other means and the organization of sports betting without a license would be punished with fines of up to 10,000 leva and six years in jail.

Repeated offenders could face jail terms of up to eight years and heavier fines.

A number match-fixing and illegal betting allegations have circulated in the Bulgarian sports press in recent years, but prosecutors have only investigated eight first division games last December.

Until now, punishing offenders has been difficult, because the practices have not been officially categorized as a crime