Gambling scandal shakes Yomiuri Giants in Japan

Three executives have resigned and players are likely to face criminal charges.

Japan.- The Japanese baseball team, Yomiuri Giants, is currently shaken by a gambling scandal involving at least four players. Three executives will resign: owner Kojiro Shiraishi, chairman Tsunekazu Momoi and advisor Tsuneo Watanabe, who owned the Giants until 2004 and is one of the most powerful men in Japanese baseball.

In November, pitchers Satoshi Fukuda, Shoki Kasahara and Ryuya Matsumoto were suspended indefinitely accused of betting on games. Now another pitcher, Kyosuke Takagi, declared: “I’ve betrayed all the people who supported me since I started playing baseball in elementary school. I’m very sorry for my actions.”

Nippon Pro Baseball run an investigation and found no evidence of game-fixing, but players did bet on NPB games with known gamblers and there was at least one bet on a Giants game. Another investigation is still in progress to determine the extent of the gambling activities.

Fukuda, Kasahara, Matsumoto and Takagi were the first players suspending for gambling in Japan in over 50 years and the team has to pay a fine of US$800,000 for failing to supervise their players.