Coral & Betfair stung by false match

Sports betting operator Gala Coral and betting exchange  Betfair is voiding bets on a football match after being notified that the event did not take place.

The betting  operators had taken wagers on a friendly match between Spain’s Ponferradina SD and Freamunde of Portugal. Ponferradina had withdrawn from the fixture and had been replaced by another football team who played against the portugese side.

Perform Group ‘s Running Ball unit, which supplies real-time sports match data, had been monitoring match activity. The company are said to be investigating false information it relayed to bookmakers amid concern reporters could be induced to help commit betting fraud.

Gala Coral Group Ltd. was also among U.K. betting companies to set odds for the game.

“We have now had it confirmed that the match in question did not take place and are awaiting more information on how and why this occurred,” Coral spokesman Simon Clare said in an e-mail. “We are now refunding all losing stakes on the match and honoring winning bets to ensure that no Coral customer loses out in any way.”