A joint report by anti-corruption organisation Transparency International, the Association of European Professional Football League (EPFL) and the German Football League (DFL) has identified a number of key measures to help combat match-fixing in the modern game.
Entitled ‘Staying on Side: How to Stop Match-fixing’, the report was one of six pilot projects co-funded by the European Commission.
In addition to Transparency International, the project also featured representatives from a number of European football’s major leagues including the English Premier League, Germany’s Bundesliga, the Greek Super Liga and Poland’s Ekstraklasa.
The project first established that the “growth of the global betting market and the potential gains from gambling and money laundering associated with betting has made football a target for organised crime”.
With match-fixing having emerged as a threat to the sport, those inside and outside of football have called for action.
In response, over the past 18 months, project partners implemented various prevention programmes in a number of European countries.
Activities in participating countries ranged from research and fact-finding on preventing match-fixing to publishing information and training materials.
The project also hosted various workshops and events for different target groups such as players, coaches and officials in order to help raise awareness about match-fixing and how to prevent it.
A total of 46 workshops, round tables and other events took place while the project also trained 102 people to become future trainers.
The project also identified whistleblower systems as a key source of support for those wanting to report match-fixing approaches or those that need advice on how to handle certain situations.
“We strongly believe awareness-raising and education are key to tackling the problem of match-fixing,” Transparency International managing director Cobus de Swardt said.
“As an anti-corruption organisation with experience helping people say no to corruption, Transparency International can offer support to those in football who have to come to grips with risky situations.
Frédéric Thiriez, president of the EPFL, added: “As the common voice of the European Leagues, the EPFL is strongly committed to use all its power and influence to ensure that the integrity of our Leagues’ competitions is fully preserved.”
source : www.igamingbusiness.com
