Bribes scandal in Asian Games wrestling matches
Iranian News Sources: Saeed Abdevali, Iran's Greco-Roman wrestler who yesterday won the gold medal in the 66 Kg weight group in 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou China, told reporters that before the final match he was offered a large sum (bribe) by the Kazakhstan team to lose to the Kazakh wrestler. Abdevali refused the bribe but then had to face an untimely call by the referees who stopped him right when he was on the verge of scoring in the first round. Abdevali says all this motivated him to beat his Kazakh opponent to earn a Gold medal for Iran in Greco-Roman wrestling.
Another allegation of bribing was reported by Gholam Mohammadi, Iran's Head Coach for Freestyle wrestling, who claims he saw from a distance in the locker rooms that money was exchanged between the Head Coach of the Kazakhstan team and the Korean referee of the 120 Kg match. The match was later called for the Kazakh wrestler and against Iranian contestant Amir Ali Akbari, who protested faulty umpiring. But Akbari was penalized for $50,000 by the Asian Games Administration and forfeited the next round of games and a potential bronze medal.