Tennis Umpire Antonio Casa Suspended Until 2031 For Betting Violations

Brazilian umpire Antonio Casa has been suspended for seven years and six months after admitting to charges of corruption and betting-related violations, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced on Monday.

The national-level official was also fined $8,000 and given a suspended penalty of $17,001 for breaching the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP), the ITIA added.

Antonio Casa admitted to seven breaches of the TACP

“Casa admitted to seven breaches of the TACP, including attempting to commit a corruption offense, manipulation of match scoring for betting purposes, and facilitation of betting,” according to the ITIA’s press release. 

Casa has officiated at ITF $15K and $25K events and served as a line judge at ATP Challenger level. The umpire “cooperated fully with the ITIA investigation and waived their right to a hearing before an independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer,” said the ITIA.

The suspended umpire will be barred from officiating or attending any tennis event authorized or sanctioned by ITIA members until midnight on Sept. 27, 2031.

ITIA suspended Tennis umpire Marko Ducman for 10 years, six months last November

In November 2023, the ITIA suspended Slovenian tennis umpire Marko Ducman for 10 years and six months for betting on matches and manipulating data. The official was also fined $75,000, with $56,250 suspended.

Ducman, an international-level official, officiated at ITF, ATP, and WTA tournaments. The umpire had been provisionally banned after admitting breaches of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP).

The bronze-level official admitted four breaches, including wagering on matches and manipulating data from matches in which he was officiating to facilitate betting. His suspension will end on March 7, 2034.

Of course, Ducman cannot attend any match authorized or sanctioned by the members of the ITIA, ATP, ITF, WTA, Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon and US Open, or any national association. 

Betting violations are becoming too common in tennis.