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Steve Menary

@stevemenary.bsky.social

Journalist - sports integrity, match fixing, illegal betting, multi club ownership, football in unrecognised countries. Joint winner of 2023 IJ4EU Impact Award for investigative journalism

511 Followers  |  88 Following  |  36 Posts  |  Joined: 14.11.2024  |  1.8015

Latest posts by stevemenary.bsky.social on Bluesky

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Illegal offshore betting websites offer wagers on U.S. college soccer games - Soccer America An investigation into the practice identified dozens of menโ€™s and womenโ€™s games during this year's NCAA soccer season available for prop bets

They are even offering US college soccer www.socceramerica.com/illegal-offs...

14.11.2025 08:28 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Ball Street - josimarfootball.com Betting operator 1XBet, one of footballโ€™s biggest and most controversial sponsors, has been declared bankrupt for refusing to pay out to customers and faces losing its licence. At the same time the co...

Lots about 1xBet over the past few years at @josimarfootball.bsky.social inc this josimarfootball.com/2022/06/10/b...

14.11.2025 08:26 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Illegal offshore betting websites offer wagers on U.S. college soccer games - Soccer America An investigation into the practice identified dozens of menโ€™s and womenโ€™s games during this year's NCAA soccer season available for prop bets

Inplay bets offered on amateur US college soccer by offshore sites but who is making it happen? With @jackkerr.bsky.social, @samindrakunti.bsky.social & @philippeauclair.bsky.social for @socceramerica.bsky.social & @josimarfootball.bsky.social Thanks to the FIJ www.socceramerica.com/illegal-offs...

11.11.2025 19:05 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 7    ๐Ÿ” 8    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Dirty money - josimarfootball.com Celtic proudly promotes itself as a football club with a social consciousness. For nine years the clubโ€™s main sponsor has been a betting company breaking laws, defrauding customers and wrecking lives.

Dafabet is all over English cricket, sponsoring live streams of games watched in India where betting is largely illegal. Great work by @nathanpaulsouthern.bsky.social and Lindsey Kennedy for
@josimarfootball.bsky.social @cricketacademic.bsky.social josimarfootball.com/2025/10/29/d...

30.10.2025 11:57 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 23    ๐Ÿ” 10    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
A red cricket ball on grass, with players in whites visible in the background.

A red cricket ball on grass, with players in whites visible in the background.

PANEL: Cricket, Gambling and Match-Fixing

29 October 2025
5pm-6pm (London time - GMT)

Chair: @stevemenary.bsky.social
Panelists: Dr Minhyeok Tak โ€“ Loughborough University, Anca-Maria Ghergel โ€“ Sheffield Hallam University, Will Gunn โ€“ Sporting Solutions

Open to all. DM us for the Teams link!

24.10.2025 16:10 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 5    ๐Ÿ” 5    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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"FIFA is so badly governed that all we can do is continue to highlight the rottenness" From FIFAโ€™s opaque development funding to club-level political interference and the repression of fan expression, panellists at Play the Game detailed how footballโ€™s global institutions continue to be...

Thanks to @playthegame-org.bsky.social for this platform and @stevemenary.bsky.social for the write-up!
www.playthegame.org/news/fifa-is...

09.10.2025 08:52 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 9    ๐Ÿ” 3    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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The migrant soldiers - josimarfootball.com For months, the Russian army has secretly recruited hundreds, if not thousands, of jobless migrant workers in Qatar to fight on the frontline against Ukraine.

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For months, the Russian army has secretly recruited hundreds, if not thousands, of jobless migrant workers in Qatar to fight on the frontline against Ukraine.

By @samindrakunti.bsky.social and @bobbyperu.bsky.social

josimarfootball.com/2025/09/25/t...

29.09.2025 08:19 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 51    ๐Ÿ” 35    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 5
International Federation of Horseracing Authorities

@begovicmarko.bsky.social and I teamed up to write this new report on the growth of offshore betting regulators which facilitate illegal betting and match fixing ifhaonline.org/default.asp?...

24.09.2025 12:14 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Important new research from Steve Menary on the increase in relationships between betting companies and leading cricket teams, tournaments & players post-Covid.

Have a read below โฌ‡๏ธโฌ‡๏ธ

01.09.2025 09:29 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 11    ๐Ÿ” 4    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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New research: Cricket flooded with betting sponsorships after pandemic Research by Play the Game reveals a surge in betting deals, with 1737confirmed partnerships between betting companies, cricket teams, tournaments, and players in the last two decades.

Cricket is being flooded by betting companies targeting South Asia .. where betting is largely illegal. New research showing how big the problem is for @playthegame-org.bsky.social
@cricketacademic.bsky.social www.playthegame.org/news/new-res...

28.08.2025 15:28 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 2
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Plus รงa change - josimarfootball.com Money-laundering, scamming, cyber slavery compounds and appalling human rights abuses are no obstacles for Premier League clubs looking for betting partners โ€“ or the UK regulator.

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Money-laundering, scamming, cyber slavery compounds and appalling human rights abuses are no obstacles for Premier League clubs looking for betting partners โ€“ or the UK regulator.

By @philippeauclair.bsky.social

josimarfootball.com/2025/07/29/p...

29.07.2025 11:06 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 73    ๐Ÿ” 24    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
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BBC World Service - Stumped, Can Moroccan cricket ever be revived? Moroccan cricket has gone into decline - but is there hope for the sport there?

Not the only bit of a disused stadium in Tangier! www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p...

25.07.2025 15:31 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Below the radar - josimarfootball.com Uefaโ€™s integrity partner Sportradar consistently claims that it doesnโ€™t sell data to unlicensed gambling operators. But its annual report states that it generates significant revenue from unlicensed g...

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Uefaโ€™s integrity partner Sportradar consistently claims that it doesnโ€™t sell data to unlicensed gambling operators. But its annual report states that it generates significant revenue from unlicensed gambling.

By @journoandy.bsky.social

josimarfootball.com/2025/07/22/b...

23.07.2025 08:15 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 30    ๐Ÿ” 14    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 2
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Below the radar - josimarfootball.com Uefaโ€™s integrity partner Sportradar consistently claims that it doesnโ€™t sell data to unlicensed gambling operators. But its annual report states that it generates significant revenue from unlicensed g...

Sportradar always claim to protect the integrity of the game.

In reality, they are the baddies.

Latest with @philippeauclair.bsky.social, @journoandy.bsky.social,
@stevemenary.bsky.social and Jack Kerr.

josimarfootball.com/2025/07/22/b...

22.07.2025 20:03 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 9    ๐Ÿ” 7    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
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Running like a fox - josimarfootball.com Leicester were set to unveil their kit for the new season last week, but the announcement was postponed. Was it because their new sponsor KBET is a hitherto unknown โ€“ and illegal โ€“ online bookmaker?

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Leicester were set to unveil their kit for the new season last week, but the announcement was postponed. Was it because their new sponsor KBET is a hitherto unknown โ€“ and illegal โ€“ online bookmaker?

By @philippeauclair.bsky.social

josimarfootball.com/2025/07/21/r...

21.07.2025 14:23 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 60    ๐Ÿ” 21    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2    ๐Ÿ“Œ 7
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Banned operators, business as usual - josimarfootball.com Sanctioned? Fined? Banned? Not a problem if you're a sports betting company eager to do business. Illegal bookmakers linked to Premier League clubs recently set up stalls at a gambling conference in L...

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Sanctioned? Fined? Banned? Not a problem if youโ€™re a sports betting company eager to do business. Illegal bookmakers linked to Premier League clubs recently set up stalls at a gambling conference in London.

By @philippeauclair.bsky.social

josimarfootball.com/2025/07/07/b...

07.07.2025 12:03 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 19    ๐Ÿ” 7    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 2
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Flabet in da house - josimarfootball.com In an unprecedented move, Flamengo are offering odds on their โ€˜in-houseโ€™ betting platform Flabet and encouraging supporters to gamble on the clubโ€™s own matches. Will this be a new trend, elite clubs h...

You may have noticed โ€˜Flabetโ€™ at the Club World Cup.

Hereโ€™s the story of Flamengoโ€™s shirt sponsor.

For @josimarfootball.bsky.social

josimarfootball.com/2025/07/03/f...

04.07.2025 08:54 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Burning up the planet: the rise-and-rise of long-haul summer friendlies by major clubs "Pre-season tours in distant locations are a growing problem โ€” for both the planet and exhausted players ... long-haul flights are among the most polluting forms of travel."

Preseason friendlies are now an excuse for major clubs to jet around the world looking for new sponsors and fans - for @sportingintel.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/sporting... @cooldownnetwork.bsky.social @fbandclimate.bsky.social

03.07.2025 07:55 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 3    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
UCL Diversity Index 2025/26: new entrants at their lowest level in 14 years - Union of European Clubs - News Created by independent journalist Steve Menary, the UEC's UCL Diversity Index provides an overview of the state of competitive balance at the top of the European football pyramid

Just two clubs will make their debut in the UEFA Champions League in 2025/26. The door is neary closed, the Super League almost here โ€ฆ For the Union of European Clubs www.ueceurope.org/post/ucl-div...

19.06.2025 10:22 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

MCO problems keep on coming: UEFA investigating potential conflict of interest between participation of DAC 1904 from Slovakia and Hungaryโ€™s ETO, which is subject to โ€œlegal proceedingsโ€

18.06.2025 11:26 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Two decades ago I started writing this book. Gibraltar & Kosovo made it into FIFA but Greenlandโ€™s treatment by footballโ€™s governing bodies is a total disgrace. What are these organisations for other than to cosy up to dictators and sell out football? Greenland = The Original Outcasts

12.06.2025 07:43 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 5    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Game over? - josimarfootball.com Declared bankrupt in Curaรงao for not paying punters, BC.GAME, main sponsor of Leicester City FC in the 2024/25 season, moved jurisdiction. But the company behind BC.GAME does not exist.

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Declared bankrupt in Curaรงao for not paying punters, BC.GAME, main sponsor of Leicester City FC in the 2024/25 season, moved jurisdiction. But the company behind BC.GAME does not exist.

By @stevemenary.bsky.social and @philippeauclair.bsky.social

josimarfootball.com/2025/06/10/g...

10.06.2025 09:12 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 20    ๐Ÿ” 5    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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A letter from Philippe Auclair - josimarfootball.com The reality we at Josimar face is stark. Should we fail to raise โ‚ฌ 50k by 1 July, the world's only investigative media dedicated solely to football will cease to exist.

We have one month to save @josimarfootball.bsky.social. If you can help, please do. ๐Ÿ™

josimarfootball.com/2025/06/03/a...

03.06.2025 12:38 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 141    ๐Ÿ” 114    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 31    ๐Ÿ“Œ 27

โ‚ฌ173 to fix a match!

30.05.2025 06:35 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Playing both sides of the pitch - josimarfootball.com Russian gambling operators are offering live betting on Ukrainian football matches โ€“ often thanks to data from Uefaโ€™s long-term integrity partner, Sportradar.

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Russian gambling operators are offering live betting on Ukrainian football matches โ€“ often thanks to data from Uefaโ€™s long-term integrity partner, Sportradar.

By @samindrakunti.bsky.social, @jackkerr.bsky.social, @philippeauclair.bsky.social

josimarfootball.com/2025/05/20/p...

20.05.2025 11:38 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 14    ๐Ÿ” 15    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 2
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TGP Europe Limited - Licence summary

Extraordinary news. TGP Europe, the company which enabled dozens of illegal Asian-facing sports betting operators to be registered in Great Britain - and sponsor PL clubs - has surrendered its licences. Good riddance.

www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/public-regis...

16.05.2025 08:27 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 87    ๐Ÿ” 16    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2    ๐Ÿ“Œ 2

@stevemenary is following 20 prominent accounts