The International Federation of Professional Footballers (Fifpro) and European football’s governing body Uefa have signed a joint cooperation agreement to make it easier for footballers to report match-fixing.
The agreement recognises the ‘Red Button’ whistleblowing app as the go-to platform to flag up possible incidents of match-fixing and manipulation.
Launched 10 years ago, Red Button allows users to anonymously report information about potential match-fixing concerns. Players can download the app upon receipt of a code from a players’ union affiliated to Fifpro.
“The new cooperation agreement allows Fifpro to exchange information received via the Red Button app with Uefa’s anti-match-fixing unit,” Uefa said. “This will facilitate closer coordination in the fight against match-fixing.
“Collaboration across the entire football community, including the use of common whistleblowing channels, is critical to identifying and dismantling sophisticated, systemised corruption schemes that can threaten professional footballers’ careers and lives.”
The partnership comes after a new report published this week by the Swedish government report proposed a number of changes to match-fixing rules. These include that all licensees must submit information about suspected match-fixing to regulator Spelinspektionen, which must then forward this information to licensees and relevant sports federations.
Licensees must also check whether any sportspeople have placed bets in violation of match-fixing rules, while requirements would also be drawn up for international information-sharing with regard to match-fixing.
Also this week, the sports betting integrity department of the Malta Gaming Authority made amendments to its suspicious betting reporting requirements, including making reporting rules now also apply to suppliers.
This means that suppliers will now have the same obligation as operators to report any suspicious betting activity to the regulator.
