Integrity in sports update: ICC adopts recommendations of Integrity Working Party

This week as part of our global initiative, the INTERPOL Integrity in Sport unit delivered a course for Law Enforcement Investigators on match-fixing and organised crime in Costa Rica.

Meanwhile in the media, match-fixing allegations were reported in Brazil, Italy and Korea, not only exposing players but also club owners and involving another popular sport such as basketball.

We also see the Wrestling governing body signing the IOC monitoring system in order to fight illegal betting and match-fixing. Other good practice initiatives that took place in Barbados and in Switzerland are in this week’s Weekly Media Recap as well.

CURRENT INVESTIGATION

Brazil

SAO PAULO -- Brazilian football officials have asked CONMEBOL to investigate match-fixing allegations in a 2013 Copa Libertadores game between Brazil's Corinthians and Argentina's Boca Juniors.

The Brazilian confederation (CBF) said in a statement on Thursday it requested "a rigorous investigation into the alleged irregularities" in the round of 16 match refereed by Carlos Amarilla of Paraguay.

The game ended 1-1, a result that eliminated Corinthians. The Brazilian side loudly complained, especially after two Corinthians goals were disallowed, and two penalties were allegedly ignored by Amarilla.

Argentina's America TV channel released recordings of phone conversations between Argentine officials, including former federation chief Julio Grondona, hinting that Amarilla was picked to help Boca. Brazilian confederation president Marco Polo Del Nero said the case was "serious and has to be investigated."

Source: AP, "Brazilian federation calls for Boca Juniors match-fixing probe", 26 June 2015, ESPNFC, https://www.espnfc.com/copa-libertadores/story/2504468/brazilian-federation-calls-for-boca-jrs-match-fixing-probe

Italy

Catania club president Antonino Pulvirenti and six others were arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of fixing matches this year to keep the club from being relegated from Serie B, Italy’s second division, investigators said. Those arrested including Pulvirenti, who also owns dozens of supermarkets and an airline, are accused of sporting fraud and match-fixing, Catania police said in a statement.

Pulvirenti, through his lawyer Giovanni Grasso, said he was “certain that he can prove he was not involved”, according to Corriere della Sera Web site. Twelve others, including five players and the owner of a rival club in Messina, are under investigation for manipulating at least five games played in 2015, police and prosecutors told reporters. The typical payoff to rival players to throw a match was €10,000, police official Antonella Paglialunga said. Police used wiretaps and video surveillance in the investigation, she said.

The latest Italian match-fixing scandal follows just a month after some 50 people, including a suspected Calabrian mobster, were detained on accusations of fixing dozens of matches in the country’s third division and its top semi-pro league. In that case, investigators suspect 28 Lega Pro and Serie D matches from the 2014-15 season were rigged. Catania, relegated from Serie A the previous season, finished 15th in Serie B in 2014-15, just three points above the relegation playoff places.

The Sicilian side were previously promoted from Serie B in 2005-06.

Source: AP, "Seven arrested over suspected match-fixing involving Catania in Serie B", 23 June 2015, The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jun/23/catania-serie-b-seven-arrested-match-fixing

Tuesday, 30 June 2015