INTERPOL Integrity in Sport Bi-Weekly Bulletin - 21 March 2016 - 3 April 2016

This is the second Bi-Weekly Bulletin of INTERPOL’s Crimes in Sport Team, which replaces the previous Weekly Media Recap.

In this bulletin, the floor is given to the Council of Europe for introducing their 18-month project called ‘Keep Crime Out Of Sport’ (KCOOS), which INTERPOL is an associate partner, pulling together international efforts to tackle competition manipulation.

In the last two weeks, there were several match-fixing reports from different parts of the world, especially on football which is still the most affected sport. However it is good to see that the law enforcement and sport are working on it therefore resulted in various investigations and sanctions. It is also encouraging to see the Dutch bank is addressing the money laundering aspect of match-fixing.

There were also two reports on doping which affects not only athletics but all other sports such as tennis, football, cricket, cycling etc.

Last but not least, INTERPOL will organise the 8th INTERPOL Match-fixing Task Force (IMFTF) and a Partnership Development Meeting (PDM) in Brussels, where several international and national stakeholders, together with the law enforcement task force members have been invited to participate.

THE FLOOR TO...

Cassandra Fernandes, Senior Project Officer, Keep Crime Out Of Sport (KCOOS), Council of Europe – together against manipulations of sports competitions

One may wonder about the political priority level given to the manipulation of sports competitions, which has come into the spotlight during the last decade, compared to other policy areas. However, when we talk about organised and cross-border crime, financial crime, offences including aiding and abetting, blackmail, coercion and the threat to life, to name a few, the significance of this issue takes on alarming proportions. Given the international aspect of this phenomenon, relevant actors need to come together and develop measures to fight match-fixing and regulate sports betting in synergy. Given the Council of Europe’s multi-sectoral approach to a number of issues, it was in a fantastic position to have adopted the first legal instrument for this domain in 2014, the Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions. This Convention is now open to signatures and ratifications worldwide, following a lengthy drafting process including various institutions and countries from a number of continents.

In order to provide practical and technical assistance to countries in implementing the Convention measures, which encourage national cooperation between public authorities, betting regulatory authorities, sports betting operators, sports organisations and law enforcement, the EU and Council of Europe have collaborated to co-fund a joint project, Keep Crime Out Of Sport (KCOOS). Launched in January 2016, the 18-month project, along with its nine project partners, representing all relevant international actors, including INTERPOL, will propose regional seminars, study visits and expert missions in order to improve exchange of information, share good practices and facilitate problem-solving. The objective is to ensure that relevant actors are not only aware of the magnitude of this phenomenon, but that they have practical support with setting up the necessary measures and mechanisms. KCOOS will especially set the groundwork for the establishment of national platforms, which will act as contact points facilitating national cooperation between the various actors as well as international collaboration. The first phase of the project is currently underway, via a questionnaire which has been distributed to the INTERPOL network. This information will be crucial for planning the next steps of the project with regard to relevant actors. The project presents an excellent opportunity for diverse actors to work towards a unified goal. Thank you, INTERPOL, for your continued cooperation! www.twitter.com/kcoos_coe / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

INVESTIGATIONS

India

The Bombay high court on Thursday directed the investigating officer probing the 2013 IPL match-fixing scam to remain present in court and submit a report regarding "further steps taken" with regard to arresting "wanted accused persons" and after collecting sufficient evidence to file a supplementary charge sheet against them. In an earlier affidavit, the Mumbai crime branch had informed the court that it has arrested 22 accused, filed a charge sheet against them and sought permission from the magistrate to conduct further probe. The high court now wants to know the progress made. A bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Prakash Naik heard a public interest litigation filed in 2013 by activist Ketan Tirodkar seeking CBI probe into the alleged scam.

Source: Rosy Sequeira, "Bombay high court seeks report on 2013 IPL match-fixing scam", 1 April 2016, Times of India, https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Bombay-high-court-seeks-report-on-2013-IPL-match-fixing-scam/articleshow/51637833.cms

Malta

Another arraignment is expected today in connection with match fixing charges relating to the UEFA U-21 Championship Group One qualifiers. 21-year-old Seyble Zammit was arraigned on Wednesday and remanded in custody. On Monday, Times of Malta reported that the police had questioned a number of Malta U-21 players who took part in last week's March 23 game, won 1-0 by Montenegro, as part of their investigation into allegations that the qualifier may have been the subject of a match-fixing approach. The Malta FA initially declined to comment but later said it was informed that the investigation was underway and it was working closely with the authorities. Reports that the Group One qualifier, won 1-0 by Montenegro, may have attracted the attention of match-fixers surfaced the day after the match. The fact that illegal betting is known to be rife in Montenegro meant that last week’s Group One UEFA Championship qualifier was regarded as a high-risk match as far as betting is concerned. The local football body is also likely to have alerted UEFA about the case.

Source: AP, "Another match fixing arraignment expected today", 1 April 2016, Times of Malta, https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20160401/local/another-match-fixing-arraignment-expected-today.607477

Netherlands

Dutch central bank DNB launched an investigation into possible money laundering in professional football. The financial authority is investigating banks and trust companies to find out whether the financial sector is properly able to recognize and address match fixing and shady transfer deals, DNB announced on Thursday, ANP reports. Over the past period DNB officials already talked to, among others, the government and sports associations. Next the financial watchdog will approach a wide selection of banks. The results of the investigation are expected in June. According to the bank, it is already clear that football is prone to corruption in several different ways. This includes royalties not being paid correctly and football clubs evading taxes. Money laundering also easily works into clubs’ ownership and transactions associated with broadcasting rights.

Source: Janene Pieters, "Dutch central bank to investigate football match fixing", 31 March 2016, NL Times, https://www.nltimes.nl/2016/03/31/dutch-central-bank-to-investigate-football-match-fixing/

Zimbabwe

THE Confederation of African Football (CAF) has opened formal investigations into allegations of match-fixing raised by ZIFA ahead of the Warriors’ back-to-back qualifiers of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations against Swaziland. ZIFA raised the red flag after a whistleblower provided damning information implicating axed executive committee member Edzai Kasinauyo, former chief executive officer Henrietta Rushwaya, former national team coach Ian Gorowa and fired Warriors’ assistant coach Nation Dube in allegedly working on manipulating the results. In a letter addressed to ZIFA chief executive officer Jonathan Mashingaidze, CAF general secretary Hicham El Amrani requested the national association to provide all documentation and elements relating to the allegations.

Source: "Caf opens probe on match-fixing", 31 March 2016, Chronicle, https://www.chronicle.co.zw/caf-opens-probe-on-match-fixing/

Tuesday, 05 April 2016