INTERPOL Integrity in Sport Bi-Weekly Bulletin - 28 November 2017 - 11 December 2017
Last week, the International Olympic Committee announced that Russia has been banned from competing at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. However, Russian athletes who can prove they are clean would be allowed to compete in South Korea under a neutral flag. In this connection, FIFA has barred Russia’s deputy prime minister, Vitaly Mutko, from seeking re-election to his position as a top executive of the organization. Mr Mutko, Russia’s former sports minister who was implicated in the nation’s doping scandal, failed an eligibility check conducted by FIFA’s review committee.
To continue, the transfer of US $22 million made by Qatar and allegedly linked to the soccer 2022 World Cup is being investigated by the Brazilian justice ministry and the FBI. In addition, the International Cricket Council is investigating seven cases of match-fixing, after it emerged that three international captains had been recently approached by potential fixers. Match-fixing investigations continue in Australia. On one side, Victoria Police are investigating claims that a match involving Melbourne City’s youth team was fixed. On the other side, a Brisbane man has been charged over allegations of harness racing match-fixing.
In terms of sentences, a naturalized Singapore citizen will have his citizenship stripped for his involvement in match-fixing. The man’s syndicate members used Singapore as a hub to conduct major global match-fixing activities, conspiring with them to fix games in various countries through corruption of officials and players.
Concerning legislation, a bill on tackling match-fixing was voted into law in Cyprus. In the Unites States, a ban on sports betting in most US states could be overturned by a case being considered by the Supreme Court which is expected to make a decision in June 2018. Regardless of the court's final ruling, Congress may also take up the debate amid broader discussion about online gaming and e-sports.
When it comes to best practices, Ghana Football Association is ready to reward anyone who reports issues of bribery and match-fixing in Ghana football with evidence with an amount of $4,500. As a result of this announcement, FIFA corruption experts will be coming to Accra in the beginning of 2018 to help handle issues of bribery and match-fixing. Moreover, New Zealand is considering a review into sport integrity, as concerns over doping, match-fixing, corruption and other issues grow.
More than 12% of athletes that took part in a University of Limerick study on match-fixing admitted to having played in a match that was fixed. More than 600 participants from across six countries taking part in the study. 15% of those surveyed said that they suspect that they have played in a fixed match, with nearly 40% of participants reporting that club officials were the most likely to instigate match fixing. Almost 15% of participants also said that they have been approached by someone in the last year who asked them to fix a match. Of those approached, 36% said they would not report it.
