By Andrew Warshaw
February 17 – Chris Eaton (pictured), the former Interpol crime-buster whose blueprint to weed out match fixing and other forms of football corruption was hailed as a major breakthrough, is leaving his post as FIFA’s head of security to join the world’s first non-profit-making organisation specialising in safety and security across all sports.
The outspoken Australian is stepping down just over two years after he joined world football’s governing body and is moving in May to the Qatar-based International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) as the organisation’s Director of Sport Integrity.
Eaton’s departure, which will follow a transition period so he can brief whoever succeeds him, will be a huge blow to FIFA who has seen unprecedented success in recent months; scores of former and present players, managers and referees – in Europe, Africa and Asia – have been identified and punished for benefiting from the lucrative illegal gambling industry.
Match-fixing investigations are ongoing in around 50 countries, partially as a result of Eaton’s contacts and forward-thinking initiatives.
Eaton recently revealed that the dangers of match fixing were so great that peoples’ lives were at risk.
As a result he set up a unique whistleblower programme offering amnesties, rewards and rehabilitation for anyone who comes forward with significant information.
It is believed the incentive resulted in many of the arrests and sanctions that have taken place in the past few months but the timing of Eaton’s departure must be questionable given that his whistleblower scheme, including a hotline and website in 180 languages, only got up and running at the start of this month.
In a statement, Eaton said: “I am sad to be leaving FIFA, but I am pleased to take with me an experience and knowledge that only FIFA within the current environment can provide.
“I am taking a new challenge that will encompass all sports, many of which could learn from FIFA’s approach to combating match fixing.”
Eaton’s tenure in Zurich coincided with the infamous cash-for-votes scandal that snared former Asian football chief Mohamed Bin Hammam and a raft of other high-profile officials.
His expertise included liaising with former FBI director Louis Freeh who was hired to investigate the allegations levelled against Bin Hammam, Jack Warner and others.
In his new role, Eaton will work closely with international sporting bodies, governments, agencies and academic institutions to assist them in the development of cross-sport platforms and solutions to tackle the incursion of criminals into both international sports and gambling.
Mohammed Hanzab, President of ICSS, said: “The ICSS is committed to assisting sporting organisations and those involved in regulating sporting contests to develop solutions to the security challenges they face.
“This includes sports results manipulation.
“We are delighted that Mr Eaton, who has been at the forefront of the fight against international match-fixing and related corruption in football, has decided to join the ICSS to help us build knowledge and share best practice in this critical area.”
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