By Andrew Warshaw
March 5 – FIFA has been quick to fill the gap to be left in May when Chris Eaton, their director of security, leaves after becoming arguably the game’s most high-profile figure in the battle against global match fixing.
Eaton is joining the Qatar-based International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) and will be replaced at FIFA by highly-qualified German law enforcement official Ralf Mutschke (pictured).
The 52-year-old is currently senior manager at the German Federal Criminal Police Office and a former Interpol director and takes up his new role on June 1.
FIFA general secretary Jérôme Valcke said the division will be beefed up under Mutschke’s supervision.
“We have decided to strengthen the former security department, making it into a full division in order to continue to tackle all issues related to football security and the protection of the integrity of the game,” said Valcke.
“This is another major step in our determination to ensure a clean and safe sport and to underline our commitment to the fight against match fixing in football.”
Mutschke set out his priority as “the integrity of FIFA competitions…match fixing, betting fraud and corruption”.
He has 33 years of experience and used to work under Helmut Spahn – the ICSS’s executive director who managed to prize Eaton away.
Mutschke said he took on the position because the integrity of sport was “hugely at risk”.
“The values of fair play, respect, discipline and honesty are under threat,” he told fifa.com.
“I think I can make a good contribution.
“I spent ten years on the beat fighting drug dealing and organised criminality, and I’ve now been working in police management for around 20 years, developing crime-fighting strategies and organising day-to-day police work.
“We’ll need to cooperate closely with security authorities at a domestic and international level, which is where my experience will help.”
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