December 11 – The Argentine Football Association (AFA) has banned referee Matías Beares following his involvement in match-fixing.
The case was opened after a joint complaint from Lotería de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires and betting operator BPlay. The investigation revealed that Beares placed two bets on a second-division match between Deportivo Morón and Almirante Brown, violating the AFA referee code.
According to the AFA, Beares wagered 500,000 Argentine pesos (£385) on the game, earning over 2 million pesos (£1,540) when Deportivo Morón defeated Almirante Brown 5-1. This conduct constitutes a “serious offence” under the AFA’s regulations.
The scandal deepened as investigators uncovered an unusual volume of bets on the exact scoreline, with approximately 12 million pesos ($11,800) wagered and a total payout of 35 million pesos ($34,400).
The AFA has said an organised crime network could be behind the , in which Beares may have played a role.
According to a source within the refereeing community who spoke to Infobae, suspicions regarding Beares had been circulating for quite some time.
“Ask yourself why he hasn’t been appointed for matches in the past five years. While he was indeed overweight, which was said to be the reason he was overlooked, he could easily have returned to officiating with a proper diet, right? Well, sometimes there are rumours about other issues,” said the source.
Authorities are continuing their investigation into the broader implications of the case, which has gained attention for involving official betting platforms and highly specific, time-stamped wagers. While the judiciary continues to investigate, the AFA has wasted no time in issuing Beares a red card.
The AFA is reportedly investigating several other suspicious matches and unusual refereeing decisions. As part of its crackdown, six additional referees have been suspended, with the most high-profile case involving Nicolás Jara.
Jara has been publicly accused of coordinating match-fixing through WhatsApp conversations with individuals tied to betting operations. The controversy escalated to the point where Jara was pulled from officiating a Deportivo Español versus El Porvenir match just one day before it took place.
In the lower divisions, Jara is suspected of influencing at least ten matches. The AFA continues to investigate these cases as part of its broader effort to tackle corruption.
For more information, contact Harry Ewing at moc.l1733941544labto1733941544ofdlr1733941544owedi1733941544sni@g1733941544niwe.1733941544yrrah1733941544