By Paul Nicholson
October 31 – Education is taking lead position in the battle against match-fixing. With a number of confederations and national federations launching player education programmes – the Sportradar-led integrity tour in Wales being the latest – player union FIFPro has launched its own campaign with FIFA and Interpol.
Launched at the FIFPro Congress in Tokyo, the first initiative is the distribution of a DVD produced by Interpol “providing players with the key tools they need to help fight match-fixing and ensure that they understand and trust that the information submitted via the respective reporting mechanisms will be treated as strictly confidential.”
The aim of the campaign is to raise awareness of the dangers of match manipulation and show players how to recognise, resist and report any attempts to manipulate matches.
“By the time any investigation into alleged match-fixing begins, the damage has already been done. This is why it is essential that the first line of defence – the players and others who control what happens on the pitch – is strengthened,” said INTERPOL secretary general Ronald Noble (pictured).
“Even the smallest and seemingly insignificant decision can have enormous consequences. This DVD is important in raising awareness about the determination and ease with which organised crime networks target individuals who can find themselves trapped in a downward spiral from which they cannot escape.”
The DVD features players including Frank Lampard, Branislav Ivanovic, Sone Aluko and Kolo Touré, and two players who have been approached by match-fixers. The 15-minute video is available to be used to develop new integrity training programmes, or incorporated into existing programmes.
One federation programme that kicked off this week is the Football Association of Wales (FAW) Integrity Tour aimed at combatting the threat of match fixing in Welsh Domestic Football.
A risk assessment of Welsh football last year found that an average of £575,000 is bet on the WPL each match, each week, with £75 million bet on average every year. The findings were enough to prompt the Welsh FA to launch a pre-emptive strike.
The Tour will take in the 12 clubs of the Corbett Sports Welsh Premier League (WPL) this season, delivering an education workshop and e-learning tool (with Sportradar) to the senior team and youth teams, as well as club officials and match officials. Second tier clubs in the Nathaniel Cars Welsh Football League Division One and Huws Gray Alliance League will receive workshops throughout the 2015/2016 season during the second year of the Integrity Tour.
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