Russian gambling operators are offering live betting on Ukrainian football matches – often thanks to data from Uefa’s long-term integrity partner, Sportradar.
By Sam Kunti, Jack Kerr, Andy Brown, Philippe Auclair and Steve Menary
Sportradar, the leading provider of live sports data that also styles itself as an integrity company, is at the heart of a questionable practice: its data floods the Russian betting market.
On the last Saturday in April, MFC Metalurh Zaporizhzhia hosted a league match in Ukraine’s second tier. The game took place in Zaporizhzhia’s Slavutych Arena, less than 50 kilometres from the frontline of the Russian invasion in Ukraine. A drone attack in the regional capital days later highlighted the dangers of life in Zaporizhzhia, leaving one child and more than two dozen adults dead.
According to The Kyiv Independent, one child and 28 adults were killed in a Russian drone strike on 2 May.
On the same day, Metalist 1925 Kharkiv hosted Agrobiznes Volochysk. The home team is also from the east of the country, though it is currently playing games such as this one in a temporary home in the national capital of Kyiv.
Despite Russia’s ongoing war in eastern Ukraine, g...
You must be a subscriber to read this article
Already a subscriber? Log in here
Josimar is entirely dependent on our subscribers to tell the stories from football that matter. Become a subscriber today!
