Match-fixing ‘pandemic’ needs a joint approach, says Zhang

Opening a two-day seminar in Kuala Lumpur organised by FIFA and Interpol and attended by more than 200 representatives from 43 countries, China’s Zhang Jilong (pictured) said everything was being done to tackle the problem but that it had turned into a  “pandemic” that was too big for one organisation to tackle alone.

Zhang told delegates: “We need to admit that match-fixing is a real danger to football’s ethical values and needs to be eliminated to preserve the sanctity of the sport.

“Match-fixing is too complex and widespread for one organization to fight it alone. To fight this, we need a joint and coordinated effort.”

Earlier this month European police revealed that a Singapore-based syndicate was behind the rigging of at least 380 matches in Europe alone between 2008 and 2011.

While the news stunned those in Europe, it was met with little surprise in Asia, which has long battled against illegal betting with several high profile cases of corruption uncovered in South Korea, China and elsewhere.

Zhang, interim president of the Asian Football Confederation until elections are held in May to find a long-term successor to Mohammed Bin Hammam, admitted Asia was at the heart of the problem but said it wasn’t the only Continent where action is needed.

“No continent is now left untouched by this disease. Match-fixing is now a pandemic in the world football,” he said.

“I can assure this conference that AFC will not rest until this blot is completely stamped out in Asia. We need to understand how match-fixing works in order to prevent it. We need more information on how crime syndicates operate. We want the result of a match to be beyond the shred of a doubt and we will do everything possible to make this happen.”

FIFA’s director of security Ralf Mutshke said his organisation had no jurisdiction to weed out the criminals and punish them. While football’s governing body could ban players and referees, “criminals are out there free – they get no sentence. That’s wrong”, he said.

“We have to bring in governments to change legislation and laws. Many countries do not have laws to fight match manipulation. Where money flows, corruption often follows. We need and must target our action at a global level.”

Also speaking was Interpol’s director of capacity building and training, Dale Sheehan, who warned the knock on effects from match-fixing had been extended way beyond sport.

“Criminals can make millions in illicit profits from match-fixing with little risk of being detected and will exploit every opportunity. By bringing together partners we are raising awareness and understanding of the problem,” Sheehan said.

“Sports and fair play are the very fabric of our society and youth and the impact of match-fixing, including murder, suicide, assault and threats has the ability to undermine that very fabric.”

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