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Chinese man to face fixing charge
YOUR E-MAIL ALERTSBRUSSELS, Belgium -- Belgian police intend to charge a Chinese businessman who they believe is the key figure in their match-fixing investigation. "It is not a case of if but when Zheyun Ye is charged and we will be issuing an international arrest warrant for his arrest," said federal prosecutor spokeswoman Lieve Pellens. Ye was arrested by police as part of their investigation in November, but was later released without charge. It is believed the 40-year-old businessman has returned to his home country. Belgium has no extradition treaty with China, but the Belgian authorities are working hard at reaching a deal in relation to this case. Belgium has also sent letters to Britain and Finland seeking permission to take their investigation to those countries. "In the UK, the betting exchange Betfair have told us they are willing to help us with whatever information we require and details on those who were involved in the betting," Pellens added. "Ye also had or still has connections in Finland with a football club there." The Chinese businessman owned a share in Finnish club FC Alliansi. Pellens confirmed that five Belgian first division clubs are currently under investigation, but would only reveal that Lierse, La Louviere and St Truidense were three of the clubs involved. "The net is a lot bigger and the number of individuals involved is greater than that," Pellens said. The growing scandal hit the headlines a fortnight ago when the ex-coach and two former players of Lierse were sacked by their new teams. Paul Put, the former coach who moved to Excelsior Mouscron, admitted that he fixed two matches because he and his family were threatened with violence. Marius Mitu and Laurent Delorge, who played for Anderlecht, also admitted to club officials they had helped to influence results last season with Lierse. The police investigation was launched last November after Betfair revealed excessive amounts of betting on a number of Belgian matches. The Belgian Football Association launched their own investigation last month after a programme by national broadcaster VRT alleged match-fixing in seven first division matches this season, and also alleged last season's championship was tainted. "Ye basically approached clubs with financial problems or were seeking to improve their position in the league by offering them a million euros," Pellens said. "He offered half up front and on the spot, but with the stipulation that as an investor he wanted a say in who was picked, who was sold and who was bought." The next stage in Ye's plan was to approach the players and coaching staff direct and attempt to bribe them, the spokeswoman said. Local media reported last year that Ye invested in Lierse, but was unsuccessful in his approaches to other teams. 
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