Euro Sport – Australia’s National Rugby League will investigate allegations that one of its top officials knew about Canterbury Bulldogs forward Ryan Tandy’s gambling problems but failed to take action before the player was convicted of match-fixing.
Tandy, banned from the NRL for life after attempting to fix a 2010 match, was found dead last week at his parents’ house in eastern New South Wales state having suffered an apparent drug overdose.
State media reported this week that the NRL’s head of football Todd Greenberg was made aware of Tandy’s gambling problems when he was chief executive of the Sydney-based team.
State broadcaster ABC reported that an associate of Tandy’s presented evidence of the player’s bets on NRL matches and horse races to Greenberg and Canterbury’s football manager Alan Thompson at a Sydney cafe. The meeting occurred only days before the tainted match against North Queensland.
“Despite being presented with evidence Tandy was betting on NRL matches, (the associate) said the pair told him to take the issue up with Tandy’s manager,” the report said.
Days later, Tandy gave away a penalty in front of the posts in the opening minutes against North Queensland which was subsequently linked to a betting plunge on the first points scored in the match. An NRL spokesman confirmed the meeting had occurred but said Greenberg denied “there was any suggestion of betting on rugby league matches.
“Mr Greenberg categorically dismisses any suggestion otherwise. “These are allegations which go back three years,” the spokesman added. “However, the NRL takes such issues seriously and is making inquiries into the matter.”
