Denmark’s TV2 reports that the report was compiled by the respected analytics company Sportradar in 2018 and until now its results have been withheld from the public, although the European Handball Federation (EHF) was made aware of them at the time of its creation. The company, whose clients include UEFA, registered 26 matches between September 2016 and November 2017, in which it said results were affected.
In connection with this, eight pairs of referees, who also officiated matches of the handball Champions League or matches of national teams, were accused of influencing the results for the purpose of illegal profits. Among them are the Croats Matija Gubica and Boris Molesevich, who managed, for example, the quarter-finals of the world championship in 2021 between Denmark and Egypt. Both referees also whistle at this year’s championship, which is currently taking place in Poland and Sweden.
Two World Cup handball referees accused of possible match-fixing
???? A Danish television investigation points to the Croatians Matija Gubica and Boris Milosevic for several adulterated results in the elite https://t.co/rFsJEnDMQd
– ABC Sports (@abc_deportes) January 16, 2023
The Sportradar company began its investigation after seven bookmakers approached it about suspiciously high amounts that were bet, for example, on a draw after the first half or a final result with very few goals.
According to Sportradar, however, the report itself is not evidence of match-fixing, which is why the EHF recommends further investigation and calls for the disclosure of any involvement of representatives of the clubs concerned in match-fixing.
EHF head of communications Thomas Schöneich responded to the case by saying that the federation considers match-fixing to be a criminal offense and that it has forwarded all information to the relevant authorities.
