By Tom Degun at the International Sport Security Conference in Doha
March 14 – The International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) and the France’s Université Paris I – Panthéon-Sorbonne have today signed an agreement here that will see the two institutions work together to combat a number of key problems in sport, including match fixing.
The Partnership Agreement was signed by ICSS President Mohammed Hanzab (pictured right) and the Professor of Public Law at Université Paris I – Panthéon-Sorbonne Laurent Vidal (left) to coincide with the start of the International Sport Security Conference here in the Qatari capital.
The agreement is the first collaboration of its kind in the world which aims to create a central hub for knowledge gathering with international sporting federations to support global sporting integrity.
The Université Paris I – Panthéon-Sorbonne, which is based in the French capital, has one of the world’s leading international public law and sports law faculties, while the ICSS is an international not-for-profit institution that helps to combat security and integrity issues in sport by offering research, training and consultancy services to Governments.
“We are pleased to announce the International Centre for Sport Security’s collaboration with the Panthéon-Sorbonne University at our second annual conference,” said the ICSS President after signing the agreement.
“Our mission is to enhance security and safety in the world of sport by proactively addressing real issues and providing best-in-class training, research and advisory services.
“Sporting integrity is at the centre of our sport security efforts and this partnership will ensure that that we are able to provide expert advice to assist international sporting federations and bodies in their ongoing efforts to address the scourge of match fixing and other illegal sporting activity.”
Key aspects of the collaboration include the creation of a jointly run sporting integrity research initiative which will manage several programmes aimed at achieving the international harmonisation of standards and regulations associated with match fixing, doping, illegal betting, and all aspects of sporting integrity.
There will also be extensive consulting with key decision-makers from various sporting federations in order to provide long-lasting, pertinent and innovative solutions to stop the proliferation of match fixing.
In addition, a Master’s programme will be established and overseen by Sophie Dion (pictured far right) who is head of the sports law faculty at the Université Paris I – Panthéon-Sorbonne as well as the Sport Advisor to the French President, Nicolas Sarkozy.
“Today is an important step in our efforts to further the work of the university in sporting integrity across the world,” Vidal said.
“Together with the ICSS we will now be in a position to develop research programmes that will help us achieve our stated aim of international conformity of regulations that address illegal sporting activity such as match fixing.
“We look forward to working with the ICSS in this important area.”
The ICSS and Université Paris I – Panthéon-Sorbonne partnership will be guided by an experienced Scientific and Advisory Committee including International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board member Denis Oswald, who is an Associate Professor of the University of Neuchâtel in Switzerland.
Rick Parry, the former chairman and managing director of the English Premier League, is also involved alongside a number of other high profile figures including former Commissioner of London Metropolitan Police Lord John Stevens and the head of security at FIFA, Chris Eaton, who will be leaving world football’s governing body in May to join ICSS as its director of sport integrity.
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