An EBU Disciplinary Committee recently considered the following charges against Mr Salvatore (otherwise known as Tony) Zaffiro:
a. That in a number of EBU-sponsored games played online via the Bridgebase Online (BBO) platform in March and April 2020, he was aware of the contents of his partner’s hand when playing.
b. This was achieved by playing under one BBO username, in partnership with other BBO identities controlled by him or to which he had access.
c. In those sessions he took unusual bridge actions which suggested knowledge of his partner’s hand.
The defendant denied the charges and declined to engage with the disciplinary process. A disciplinary hearing was therefore held in his absence. The Disciplinary Committee found the charges proved, and that the defendant’s conduct constituted an offence under paragraph 3.2(iv) of the EBU Disciplinary Rules, being unfair or dishonest play.
The Committee imposed a sanction of suspension of EBU membership for a period of four years.
October 28, 2020