By Pierre Cornu, Chief Counsel - Integrity and Regulatory Affairs, UEFA
Match fixing is a serious threat to sport. Various sports are affected, but football is especially exposed because of its huge popularity and the high visibility that goes with it. The threat of match fixing has become even more acute since the advent of online betting, which allows bets to be placed not only on the final result of a match but also on relatively minor – and therefore easier to influence – occurrences, such as the first yellow card or first free-kick.
UEFA has made the fight against match fixing one of its top priorities and practises a strict policy of zero tolerance. Action has already been taken: establishment of a system to monitor betting patterns across all UEFA matches and all top division and cup matches of all UEFA’s member associations; strengthening of regulatory provisions; creation of a network of integrity officers (one per UEFA member association) to ensure coordination between UEFA and its member associations on the one hand, and between the associations and their local authorities on the other; creation of an integrity database; cooperation with various institutions, in particular criminal prosecution bodies; preventive measures; opening of a special telephone line (integrity line) to encourage whistleblowing; etc.
This action has already paid off: clubs, officials, players and referees have been severely punished for match-fixing offences. In other cases, inquiries are under way. The measures taken have also clearly deterred potential offenders from going any further (fewer alerts in European competition matches, for example). Stepping up the fight against match fixing entails, in particular, making changes to national legislation, as, for example, has already been done in France, Italy, Poland and Spain (adoption of criminal provisions to crack down specifically on fraud in sport).
Betting laws also need to be adapted to the current situation. UEFA is actively supporting the efforts of the EU and the Council of Europe in these two areas. Naturally, UEFA intends to pursue its own efforts by all appropriate means and is prepared to work with any other body that is also keen to eradicate this phenomenon.
Pierre Cornu, is Chief Counsel, Integrity and Regulatory Affairs in UEFA and speaking on the Sport and Recreation Alliance EU summit: Finding funding and fighting fixing
