The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has decreed a lifetime ban on Portuguese tennis referee Daniel Zeferino after he was found guilty of match fraud charges.
The allegations relate to Zeferino’s manipulation of scores, which were introduced into his electronic scoring device at an ITF M15 event in 2020, facilitating punters’ earnings in some games.
Zeferino, who was a renowned referee, admitted to his conduct in an interview with ITIA and did not contest the allegations.
Deciding on the case, independent anti-corruption auditor (AHO), Ian Mill, said that Zeferino must be removed from the sport permanently, meaning he will no longer be able to work at tennis events authorized or sanctioned by any international tennis governing body or national association.
The ITIA noted that Zeferino violated two sections of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP). These included Section D.1.b of the 2020 TACP which says that no covered person shall, directly or indirectly, facilitate any other person to bet on the outcome or any other aspect of any event or any other tennis competition.
Zeferino was also found to have violated Section D.1.d of the TACP 2020, which states that people must not contribute to the outcome, or any other aspect, of any tennis event.
Other fraud cases detected by ITIA
The decision comes after the ITIA recently confirmed that six Spanish tennis players have been banned from the sport after being convicted on criminal charges related to match fraud in Spanish courts.
Marc Fornell Mestres, who had an ATP ranking of 236, and Jorge Marse Vidri, whose highest ATP ranking was 562, were both banned, as were non-ranked players Carlos Ortega, Jaime Ortega, Marcos Torralbo and Pedro Bernabe Franco.
All six players pleaded guilty to corruption charges and were convicted in Spain as part of a wider case involving organized crime, which remains ongoing.
