The National Police of Ukraine has launched an investigation into the possible involvement of FC 'Poltava' in match-fixing after receiving accusations of violations of five articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The investigation concerns suspicions of fraud, illegal influence on the results of sports competitions, participation in illegal gambling schemes, as well as extortion and money laundering.
Renowned football expert Francesco Baranka pointed to attempts to falsify several matches of FC 'Poltava' this season, particularly against 'Rukh', 'Obolon', and 'Kryvbas'. There is evidence suggesting the club's involvement in match-fixing and influence on betting. The head of the Ethics and Fair Play Committee of UAF evaluated the potential earnings from these schemes to be significant, ranging from 500 thousand to 1 million euros.
FC 'Poltava' has previously been penalized for violations of advertising legislation and currently sits at the bottom of the standings with six points. Meanwhile, the Ukraine national football team continues its fight for participation in the 2026 World Cup, achieving important victories in matches against Azerbaijan and Iceland.
The investigation into possible match-fixing and betting manipulation by FC 'Poltava' raises important questions of honesty and ethics in the sports world, casting doubt on the results of some matches in Ukrainian football.