By Andrew Warshaw
April 11 – The most comprehensive revelations to date into the scale and scope of match-fixing and betting fraud will be unveiled next month. The in-depth assessment is a partnership between the Qatar-based International Centre for Sport Security and the Sorbonne in Paris, with the goal being to influence governments in the fight against corruption in sport.
Known as the Sorbonne-ICSS Research Programme Sport Integrity Study, the two organisations have compiled, for the first time, an exhaustive inventory of existing practices, case studies and innovative analysis from various sports organisations, betting operators, governments, international organisations and sponsors.
The key findings will be announced at a special forum in Paris on 1May 15, suggesting ways to prevent manipulation of both players and referees as well as the outcome of sports events.
It is anticipated that around 400 leaders from sport, government, integrity and betting organisations will attend what is effectively the climax of a two-year project.
The timing could not be more apt with fresh betting scandals constantly erupting across the globe, even in countries where football is less susceptible to illegal activities. In England, for instance, authorities are seeking a blanket ban on gambling on matches following a string of betting-related incidents.
“This report will assist federations, sports organisations and governments in the further development of their integrity practices going forward,” ICSS director of sport integrity Chris Eaton was quoted as saying during the recent Sport Accord conference in Turkey.
“The combined conspiracies of match-fixing and betting-fraud currently pose the most serious threat to the sports movement. Given the rapid growth and innovation in the betting industry over the last decade, sport has struggled to keep pace.
“Part of the challenge is that sport cannot fight this battle on its own. While it can deal with issues involving integrity in sport and enforce sanctions or bans its members, it cannot enforce criminal penalties. Only governments have the power to fix this problem; not sport bodies and not sport betting organisations. It is crucial that leading organisations in sport work together to build governmental support internationally to combat match-fixing and betting fraud.”
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734915722labto1734915722ofdlr1734915722owedi1734915722sni@w1734915722ahsra1734915722w.wer1734915722dna1734915722