Society

Convention Marks a New Milestone in the Fight Against Match-Fixing

European Conference on the Fight Against the Manipulation of Sports Competitions Took Place in Strasbourg This September

October 10th, 2016
Michaela Zackova, CD News
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The European Commission plays an active role in the fight against match fixing. The ‘Conference on the Fight Against the Manipulation of Sports Competitions’ held between the 20th and 21st September 2016, was part of a broader effort to ensure that sport competitions are fair in order to ensure their good reputation. The broader fight against match fixing is lead by key international bodies such as the International Olympic Committee and the Council of Europe.

The conference aimed to prevent, detect and fight match fixing and the manipulation of sport competitions. It also called for sports betting regulatory authorities to advance the fight against fraud and illegal betting, and for sports organizations and competition organizers to be required to adopt and implement stricter rules to combat corruption.

The conference brought together 143 delegates from 46 countries and five continents. These delegates represented international organizations such as the European Union, UNESCO, FIFA, and UEFA, as well as betting operators, the business community and regulators.

The conference was set up with the aim to discuss regulations to be implemented as part of the Council of Europe Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions, known as ‘Macolin Convention’. The convention is an important step towards efficient responses to sports manipulation worldwide.

Match fixing is the arrangement of the outcome of a sport match prior to it being played, violating the rules of the game and often the law. It is often linked to gambling, with criminal networks taking advantage of unregulated gambling markets.

 Prior to the conference, Androulla Vassiliou, European Commissioner responsible for Sport, said, “match-fixing is a cross-border problem and action at European level is essential if we are to combat this scourge. We need to ensure that everyone involved in the fight against the fraudsters works together as a team. This Convention will help to increase cooperation between the sport movement, betting operators, law enforcement authorities, governments and the European institutions. It's a fight we have to win."

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