Van Gerwen reacts to match fixing investigation: “I am certainly not surprised”

Michael Van Gerwen was not surprised to find out the news regarding the match fixing investigation carried out by NOS.

It was revealed yesterday (Tuesday) that at least six Dutch Darts players were approached to influence the results of matches.

“I am certainly not surprised. It is something that also happened years ago. In a sport that involves a lot of money, chances are you will have to deal with this. It also happens in football and tennis, '' Van Gerwen tells AD.

The three-time World Champion who has already earned many millions in prize money in his career, also makes it immediately clear that such organizations do not have to turn to him. “I've never been approached in my life. That makes no sense to me or other top players. We already make a lot of money. If they offered me ten, twenty or fifty thousand euros, that would be a lot of money, but of course I'm not going to do stupid things for that. "

Research by NOS showed that Niels Zonneveld and Maik Kuivenhoven, among others, had been approached by match fixers. They declined the offer. That did not apply to Wessel Nijman, who was caught and suspended for five years during the MODUS Live League.

"You see it happening in the lower regions," continued Van Gerwen. “There the players are approached. If people are not well off financially and need money, they sometimes do crazy things for it. That is not good, but it is also difficult to stop. "

To combat match fixing, the PDC had their players sign a new player contract a few years ago. "Everything is tightly laid down there, including gambling," says Van Gerwen. "You can't bet on matches like that. Within darts, a lot has been professionalised in recent years.”