Tennis umpire banned for life for match-fixing

Story by Reuters

Updated 1400 GMT (2200 HKT) May 11, 2022

Daniel Zeferino has been banned for life after he was found guilty of match-fixing and helping betters.

(Reuters)Portuguese chair umpire Daniel Zeferino has been banned from tennis for life after being found guilty of match-fixing and helping betters, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) said on Tuesday.

The London-based agency said Zeferino had been «manipulating» scores inputted into his electronic scoring device at an ITF M15 event in 2020, facilitating «guaranteed wins» by betters on those points.The ITIA added that Zeferino did not contest the charges and admitted his conduct in an interview.He will no longer be allowed to officiate at any tennis event authorized or sanctioned by any international tennis governing body or national association.