Australian Open “Courtsiding” Case Takes A Twist

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 17th January 2014

Wimbledon A chair umpire during first round match

Australian Open "Courtsiding" Case Takes A Twist

epa03282272 A chair umpire during first round match of Stephanie Dubois of Canada against Jie Zheng of China for the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 26 June 2012. EPA/JONATHAN BRADY |

The Australian Open “courtsiding” case has taken a new twist, with the British man accused of passing along running results of live matches being offered a full defense by his outraged London employer. Daniel Dobson, 22, is fully backed by Sporting Data Ltd, with the three-man firm correctly pointing out that their representative was doing exactly what chair umpires all over the world do on a daily basis.

Dobson has been charged under a new, draconian Victoria law against influencing the outcome of sport betting which carries a theoretical 10-year maximum sentence. Lawyers who represented Dobson in court said that their client was engaged of nothing of the kind.

Sporting Data responded immediately on its website, denying wrongdoing: ““Sporting Data has never been and never will be involved in any type of match fixing. We encourage a more proactive stance against those who are involved in match fixing.

“However, recently, one of our employees has been accused of the very serious crime of match fixing at the Australian Open and we shall do everything we can to fight this grossly unfair accusation.”

The company provides data to private clients who use it to place real-time wagers on live matches – all perfectly legal in Australia and elsewhere. Lawyers say police are applying the law, which has only been on the books for a few months, in an incorrect fashion. Dobson was bailed, his passport taken and told to stay away for the Open.

The company added that real-time information which was sent by Dobson from a hidden transmitter via a wireless signal is used to update algorithms which continually calculate odds.

ATP and WTA chair umpires perform exactly the same service for their Tour employers as they keep score electronically from the chair, with information being fed onsite servers which flash it around the world – usually faster than television broadcast images of the match in question.

An early court decision is expected.

Topics: 10sballs, Australian Open, Courtsiding, Daniel Dobson, Tennis, Tennis News