MATCH-FIXING : THE PROBLEM

European Sport Summit 2011, London, 20 October 2011

Pierre Cornu, UEFA Chief Counsel, Integrity and Regulatory Affairs

MATCH-FIXING

MATCH-FIXING = CORRUPTION !

MATCH-FIXING

• Jeopardises the integrity of the competitions• Damages the very soul of sports• Damages the social, educational and cultural values reflected by sports• Jeopardises the economic role of sports

• Not only football (cricket, tennis, rugby, snooker, etc.)

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PROBLEM INCREASES

EVEN IF A VAST MAJORITY OF THE GAMES ARE « CLEAN »

MATCH-FIXING

SPORTING OBJECTIVES

• Avoid relegation• Qualify for a major competition (e.g. UEFA Champions League)• Etc.

ECONOMIC RELEVANCE FOR PARTICIPANTS

• UEFA Champions League• Olympic Games

AMBITION !

MATCH-FIXING

MORE OFTEN: GAMBLING (LEGAL AND ILLEGAL)

• Sure bet• 1X2, Asian Handicap, Specific online bets (first yellow card, next free kick)

GAMBLING

• Dynamically developing betting market• Online gambling• Sports betting turnover: USD 10 billion expected in 2012, in Europe only• High-risk gambling

RISKS ARE INCREASING !

ORGANISED CRIME AND MATCH-FIXING

NECESSARY DEGREE OF ORGANISATION FOR MATCH-FIXING

• Transnational or not• More than one person must be involved• Cash necessary (« incentives » and betting)

REDUCED RISKS (SEE PENALTIES FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING…)

QUICK AND IMPORTANT FINANCIAL GAINS

FINANCING OTHER CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES

MATCH-FIXING

CORRUPTION

ORGANISED CRIME

NOT ONLY A PROBLEM FOR SPORTS ORGANISATIONS

ALSO A PROBLEM FOR

• The State• The society

« ORDRE PUBLIC »

MATCH-FIXING

LEGAL FRAME

• Fraud, corruption, etc. (see Germany, Switzerland, etc.)• Risk: LEA don’t prosecute or dedicate insufficient manpower and methods• Solution: « sporting fraud » !

• Legislation on gambling (property rights; «high risk» betting)• , etc.

REGULATORY FRAME (E.G. UEFA REGULATIONS)

• Definition of disciplinary offences• Disciplinary sanctions• Admission to / exclusion from competitions

MATCH-FIXING

EVIDENCE DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN

• Monitoring the betting patterns: SPORTS ORGANISATIONS• Supervision of game: SPORTS ORGANISATIONS

• Hearings with persons who could be concerned: SPORTS ORGANISATIONS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES (LEA)

• Special investigating measures (phones taps, etc.): LEA• House searches: LEA• Arrests, custody: LEA

COORDINATION BETWEEN STATE AND SPORTS AUTHORITIES

MATCH-FIXING

« SPORTING FRAUD » AS A SPECIFIC CRIMINAL OFFENCE

COOPERATION: STATE AUTHORITIES-SPORTS ORGANISATIONS

• Coordination criminal / disciplinary proceedings• Exchange of information (access to criminal files, etc.)

INTERNATIONAL POLICE AND JUDICIAL COOPERATION

RECOGNITION OF SPORTS BODIES’ PROPERTY RIGHTS TO THE COMPETITIONS THEY ORGANISE

SPECIFIC PREVENTION PROGRAMS

UEFA ACTION – SOME MAIN ACTION LINES

Support to international efforts (EU, CoE, etc.)

Prevention programs

Betting Fraud Detection System (monitoring of matches)

Integrity officers

Cooperation with international bodies (Interpol, Europol, Eurojust, IAP)

Cooperation with betting operators (MoUs with European Lotteries, Betfair)

Cooperation with other sports organisations (FIFA, IOC, etc.)

RESULTS – SOME EXAMPLES

• Players suspended for long periods of time (2 years to life ban)

• Referees banned for life

• Pobeda suspended from European competitions for 8 years

• Olympiakos Volou excluded from UEL 2011-12

• Fenerbahçe withdrawn from UCL 2011-12

• Investigations in several countries (Greece, Italy, etc.)

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION !