Match-Fixing Scandal in Georgian Basketball Sees Five Detainees

(TBILISI)--Two Georgia referees holding international qualification have been released on bail and three others have been sent to pre-trial detention for fixing the Georgian national basketball championship games.

Three Georgian referees all with the international category, Zaza Machaladze, Irakli Berishvili and David Berishvili were detained on October 22, as well as the coach of the Georgian basketball club Sokhumi Vazha Kvaratskhelia and the co-owner of the club Temur Datikashvili.

Investigation revealed Kvaratskhelia and Datikashvili dealt with referees Machaladze and Berishvili to fix the games of Georgia’s basketball championship-Super league.

Georgia’s State Security Service (SSS) announced Kvaratskhelia and Datikashvili demanded about $15,000 from a person, SSS did not identify, for three Super League marches held on December 15-16. The share of the referees should be $6,000 in total.

Irakli and David Berishvili have been released on bail last week, each for about $2,000(5,000 GEL), while the remaining three will have to stay behind cells until the trial.

If court confirms illegality the people will be sent to prison for 4-6 years.