The number of football matches with suspicious betting patterns in world football decreased in 2018, a report published by STATS Perform has found.

The 2019 Suspicious Betting Trends in Global Football investigation shows 377 matches were identified as having suspicious betting patterns, compared to 397 in 2017.

The drop comes despite an increase in the number of games analysed, with 62,250 looked at in 2018 compared to 54,757 the year before.

Europe again saw the largest number of suspicious matches 227 in 2018. There were 69 in Asia, 24 in South America, five in Africa, four in North America and one in Oceania.

A further 47 international matches were identified.

Despite the positive drop in the overall number of suspicious matches, there were tw…

FIFA has condemned Fancy Bears for publishing a list of players who were allegedly permitted to use prohibited substances for medical reasons at the 2010 World Cup.

The hacker group on Tuesday leaked a document which claimed that Argentina s Carlos Tevez, Diego Milito, Juan Sebastian Veron and Gabriel Heinze were among 25 footballers who were granted Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs) during the tournament in South Africa.

Netherlands forward Dirk Kuyt and Germany striker Mario Gomez were also named on the list, which detailed substances that certain players were granted permission to use due to health concerns.

There is no suggestion in the leaked document that any of the players named had breached anti-doping regulations.

In response, football s world go…

Saturday’s Week 15 action concludes with the New England Patriots visiting the Indianapolis Colts as 2.5-point road dogs. The Patriots have benefited from some scheduling favors as well as weather conditions of late and the Colts pose a real risk to the Patriots’ seven-game winning streak. 

Is New England’s stock at a season-high heading into Saturday’s game? Will we see both teams’ defense sell out to stop the run? Find out in our free props and predictions for Patriots vs. Colts.

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I don’t know what makes me feel worse: the flu virus coursing through my veins or another losing week of NFL Underdog picks. Either way, it’s been a shit seven days.

My NFL picks and predictions have had a tough time through nine weeks of action, despite what’s been a profitable run for those teams getting the points. And while I feel like I’m missing out, I don’t feel like I’m missing by much. 

Getting over a slump is just like getting over an illness. There’s no one-dose magic elixir that’s going to make it right again. You know the steps you need to take to get well: avoid extra exertion, get some rest, have healthy habits, and take your medicine. 

For the sports bettor on a skid, that me…

Shopping is front of mind in NFL Week 16. 

Not only is the countdown to Christmas on its final ticks but the NFL odds for a busy week of betting on football are fresh out of the oddsmakers’ oven like a batch of gingerbread men.

Getting the best of the bookies this holiday week means getting the best number for your opinion. That has us shopping the opening Week 16 odds for value now and waiting a little later in the week for some last-minute discounts.

Here are my “Bet Now, Bet Later” lines for Week 16.

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The final week of the NFL preseason continues Saturday afternoon with a matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and Houston Texans.

These two teams, like many others across the league, held a joint practice this week that heavily featured starters. However, it’s unlikely we’ll see any of them in this game.

As a result, my Rams vs. Texans predictions lean toward a low-scoring affair. Find out more in our NFL picks for August 24.

Rams vs Texans prediction

My best betUnder 34.5 (-115 at FanDuel)

My analysis

The Los Angeles Rams have only played one quarterback for the entirety of the preseason, and that is second-year man Stetson Bennett. With Matthew Stafford as the obvious starter and Jimmy Garoppolo as …

Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that he will remain the Red Devils boss  until 2015.

Since 1986, Fergie has been in charge of Manchester United. He has had a tremendous run, establishing himself as arguably the best football manager of all-time.

But the Scottish manager still insists that he is going nowhere any time soon and will remain at Old Trafford for three to four more years.

 “I’ve got three or four years left,” Ferguson said. “I feel good. But when I do leave, I will leave in place a strong young team that will continue to succeed for my successor.”

In the last few years, Fergie has made it his goal to accumulate a lot of young talent. He has brought in the likes of Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, and David de Gea…

Luke Shaw does not understand criticism of England manager Gareth Southgate, who is looking to lead the Three Lions to successive European Championship finals.

Having lost the final of the delayed 2020 edition on penalties to Italy, England are just one game away from the Euro 2024 showpiece game after beating Switzerland on spot-kicks on Saturday.

They face the Netherlands in the last four on Wednesday, with Southgate looking to become the first Three Lions manager to lead the team to a tournament final on foreign soil.

Saturday s quarter-final was Southgate s 100th game in charge of England. He has led the team to three semi-finals in four tournaments at the helm, after they reached two semi-finals in their previous 17 competitions before his appointment.

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This is one of those groups where things should be pretty straightforward, or at least that is how everything seems on paper. Mighty Bayern Munich should have no problems finishing first, revived Arsenal are expected to join the Bavarians in the next stage, and Olympiakos are likely to pip Dinamo Zagreb to the Europa League berth. However, considering that these kinds of groups often serve us a fair share of surprises, maybe pre-season predictions might not prove correct. Much will depend on the start the so-called weaker sides make in this year s competition.

Outright Tips

Market: Group Betting
Tip: Bayern Munich to Win Group F
Odds:

After winning their fifth Champions League title two years ago, the Bavarians were eliminated by El Clasico rivals in the previous tw…

1) Inter Milan

Last season’s Serie A champions are strong favourites to secure another title this campaign and it’s not hard to see why.

Jose Mourinho’s arrival has galvanised a squad of players brimming with quality and optimism. While transfer targets such as Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, Ricardo Carvalho and Ricardo Quaresma haven’t arrived at the San Siro, Mourinho has made some clever signings over the summer.

Brazilian winger Amantino Mancini looked impressive during five impressive seasons with Roma, while Sulley Muntari was one of last season’s best Premiership midfielders.

From Julio Cesar in goal, the central defensive partnership of Walter Samuel and Cristian C…