SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Consequences should be expected according to the former director general of Paraguay’s CONAJZAR gambling commission, Javier Balbuena, following the recent appeal against Club Olimpia president Marco Trovato.
The appeal, which was made last week to the Paraguayan Football Association (APF), requested that an investigation be opened into Trovato following allegations first reported by the La Nación newspaper group.
The report stated that the family owned Trovato CISA has been uncovered as the parent company to Fastpay, the electronic payment system for sports betting in Paraguay and, as a result, 10 out of the 12 Paraguayan Primera División football clubs agreed to the APF appeal.
Balbuena explained to SBC Noticias: “The question about the legality or not of the firm that provides payment gateway services is not an issue that can be analyzed from a gambling regulation point of view, but rather by the corresponding office of the Central Bank of Paraguay, an institution that is responsible for the regulation of financial intermediation companies and others related to the management of economic resources.
“The environment became confusing when condiments were introduced, such as the violation of the FIFA Code of Ethics and the insinuation of possible commission of damages on the part of members of Paraguayan football in regards to results from first division football matches.”
As well as this, the former director general hinted at the possibility of future damages and consequences as well as discussing the integrity of football and what is needed to ensure it.
He continued: “What happened can be considered as a prelude to the recognition of the need for the governing bodies of sport and the State, through Conajzar, to create the appropriate conditions to guarantee the integrity of football.
“It is a matter of extreme delicacy that, if checked, will be a reason for analysis of both the governing bodies of football and sports betting. Without a doubt, there will be consequences.”
Balbuena also stressed that a great deal of importance should be placed on the future of Trovato, stating that the million-dollar question regarded whether the owner of Club Olimpia would “resign from his managerial position or terminate his company’s commercial contract with the sports betting concessionaire.”
