SBC Noticias has revealed that the Argentine Football Association (AFA) has decided to expel referee Matías Beares, accusing him of involvement in match-fixing.
This decision followed a collaborative complaint initiated by the Lotería de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires and the gaming company BPlay.
The allegations centered around Beares making two bets on a match in Argentina’s second division between Deportivo Morón and Almirante Brown, an act which AFA deems as a severe violation of its code of conduct for referees.
In these bets, Beares wagered a total of 500,000 Argentine pesos (£385), but ended up collecting over 2 million pesos (£1,540) in winnings when the match concluded with Almirante Brown losing 1-5 to Morón.
The situation extends beyond Beares, as further examination highlighted an unusual betting pattern on the precise match score, with approximately 12 million pesos staked, leading to 35 million in payouts.
The AFA has suggested this might indicate the presence of an organized crime syndicate involving Beares, and they have assured that further examinations by the concerned authorities will proceed.