Weekly integrity in sport update from INTERPOL 25-31 January 2016

In this week's media recap we see, once again, that tennis and cricket remain in the news. Current investigations are presently under way with tennis in New Zealand and cricket in South Africa. In both these current investigations players involved in alleged match fixing have been identified.

A good practice is also been reported on, with the French government launching a new watchdog to monitor online betting to combat match-fixing. This watchdog involves the creation of a coordination unit to inform and fight against the problem under the presidency of a director of Sport, as well as a unit for surveillance of the French betting market.

CURRENT INVESTIGATION

New Zealand

Match-fixing has been suspected in at least four matches played at New Zealand's premier tennis tournament over the past five years. The Herald can reveal one match played at the Heineken Open in 2011, one in 2012 and two in 2014 have caught the eye of those investigating suspicious betting patterns on the ATP Tour. One player who is understood to have been "red-flagged" to betting and tennis authorities was involved in two of the questionable matches. Tournament director for the 2011 and 2012 editions, Richard Palmer, yesterday said that while he had no knowledge of anything untoward in the particular matches identified and can "barely recall" the player supposedly involved twice, players were often accused of tanking - the practice of losing on purpose - at the Auckland tournament.

Source: Niall Anderson, Dylan Cleaver, "Revealed: Match-fixing suspected at NZ tennis tournaments", 28 January 2016, New Zealand Herald ,https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11580900

South Africa

JOHANNESBURG – Former Proteas cricketer Gulam Bodi could face criminal charges as his case of match-fixing is handed over to the SA Police Service (SAPS). The Cricket SA (CSA) board, which met on Friday, released a statement saying the SAPS would deal with any criminal charges. CSA on Monday banned Bodi, 37, from the game for 20 years after finding him guilty of trying to fix matches in the domestic RAM SLAM T20 tournament last year. “The board received an update on the corruption matter and noted that the matter had been reported last year by CSA to the relevant crime unit of the SAPS, which will now deal with any criminal aspects of the investigation,” said CSA. “The board is satisfied with the progress that has been made so far and with the lengthy ban that was imposed on Mr Bodi,” said board Chairman Chris Nenzani. “We will strongly uphold our stance of zero tolerance on any corruption matter. The internal investigation under the CSA Anti-Corruption Code continues and we are confident that our experienced investigative team will leave no stone unturned.”

Source: AP, "'Match-fixer' Bodi to answer to the police ", 30 January 2016, Enca Africa News, https://www.enca.com/sport/cricket/match-fixer-bodi-answer-police

GOOD PRACTICE

France

The French government has launched a new watchdog to monitor online betting in a bid to combat match-fixing, Sports Minister Thierry Braillard announced on Friday (AEDT). The body will allow for an exchange of information between the different authorities regulating online betting at national and international level along with sports federations and betting operators. "This platform bringing together all stakeholders will allow us to better arm ourselves against the scourge that is the manipulation of sports competitions," said Braillard. It involves the creation of a co-ordination unit to inform and fight against the problem under the presidency of a director of sport, as well as a unit for surveillance of the French market. The initiative is linked to the Council of Europe's International Convention for the fight against corruption in sport, which was signed by France in October 2014. Its ratification by member states came up against the non-signature of Malta, the home of many betting operators. The new French initiative comes just ten days after a bombshell report alleging widespread match-fixing in tennis. Tennis's governing bodies announced at the Australian Open on Wednesday an independent review into the tennis anti-corruption program. Tennis Integrity Unit chairman Phillip Brook expressed concern about the abundance of varied betting options on a given tennis match. He questioned the appropriateness of in-play betting and singled out the French authorities for banning it.

Source: AP, "French government launches online betting watchdog to combat match-fixing", 28 January 2016, Abc.net News, https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-29/france-launches-online-betting-watchdog/7123398

Tuesday, 02 February 2016