Russia to make match-fixing a criminal offence

By Duncan Mackay

January 11 – Match-fixing will be a criminal offence under new legislation set to be put before the Russian Parliament, the country’s Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko has revealed.

A proposal from Federal Audit Chamber chairman Sergei Stepashin has received the backing of Vladimir Putin’s Government and the new amendments to the state law about physical culture could be introduced before the end of this year providing the Duma, the lower house of Russia’s Parliament, approved them.

“We hope the amendments will be ready for the Duma’s consideration in the first half of this year,” said Mutko, who is also a member of FIFA’s ruling Executive Committee.

“After that we are set to pass a new law about football before setting up the question about criminal liability for match-fixing.

“We will also take into consideration the international practice in this sphere.

“I believe the new law will be intact before the end of 2012.”

Anzor Kavazashvili, the head of the Russian Football Union (RFU) Ethics Committee, established to deal with match-fixing in Russian football, claimed that the new law will stamp out the problem.

“It’s a very timely initiative,” he said.

“The new law will become a serious weapon against match-fixing as the existing laws give us few chances to start a legal action against cheaters in our football.

“Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has declared a war to the corruption in the country, while match-fixing is the main factor of corruption in football.”

Contact the writer of this story at zib.l1738316481labto1738316481ofdlr1738316481owedi1738316481sni@y1738316481akcam1738316481.nacn1738316481ud1738316481