Transcript EU ssUMMIT - Sport and Recreation Alliance

MATCH-FIXING : THE PROBLEM
European Sport Summit 2011, London, 20 October 2011
Pierre Cornu, UEFA Chief Counsel, Integrity and Regulatory Affairs
MATCH-FIXING
MATCH-FIXING = CORRUPTION !
MATCH-FIXING
•
•
•
•
Jeopardises the integrity of the competitions
Damages the very soul of sports
Damages the social, educational and cultural values reflected by sports
Jeopardises the economic role of sports
•
Not only football (cricket, tennis, rugby, snooker, etc.)
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PROBLEM INCREASES
EVEN IF A VAST MAJORITY OF THE GAMES ARE « CLEAN »
MATCH-FIXING
SPORTING OBJECTIVES
•
•
•
Avoid relegation
Qualify for a major competition (e.g. UEFA Champions League)
Etc.
ECONOMIC RELEVANCE FOR PARTICIPANTS
•
•
UEFA Champions League
Olympic Games
AMBITION !
MATCH-FIXING
MORE OFTEN: GAMBLING (LEGAL AND ILLEGAL)
•
•
Sure bet
1X2, Asian Handicap, Specific online bets (first yellow card, next free kick)
GAMBLING
•
•
•
•
Dynamically developing betting market
Online gambling
Sports betting turnover: USD 10 billion expected in 2012, in Europe only
High-risk gambling
RISKS ARE INCREASING !
ORGANISED CRIME AND MATCH-FIXING
NECESSARY DEGREE OF ORGANISATION FOR MATCH-FIXING
•
•
•
Transnational or not
More than one person must be involved
Cash necessary (« incentives » and betting)
REDUCED RISKS (SEE PENALTIES FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING…)
QUICK AND IMPORTANT FINANCIAL GAINS
FINANCING OTHER CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES
MATCH-FIXING
CORRUPTION
ORGANISED CRIME
NOT ONLY A PROBLEM FOR SPORTS ORGANISATIONS
ALSO A PROBLEM FOR
•
•
The State
The society
« ORDRE PUBLIC »
MATCH-FIXING
LEGAL FRAME
•
•
•
Fraud, corruption, etc. (see Germany, Switzerland, etc.)
Risk: LEA don’t prosecute or dedicate insufficient manpower and methods
Solution: « sporting fraud » !
• Legislation on gambling (property rights; «high risk» betting)
• , etc.
REGULATORY FRAME (E.G. UEFA REGULATIONS)
•
•
•
Definition of disciplinary offences
Disciplinary sanctions
Admission to / exclusion from competitions
MATCH-FIXING
EVIDENCE DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN
•
•
Monitoring the betting patterns: SPORTS ORGANISATIONS
Supervision of game: SPORTS ORGANISATIONS
•
Hearings with persons who could be concerned: SPORTS
ORGANISATIONS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES (LEA)
•
•
•
Special investigating measures (phones taps, etc.): LEA
House searches: LEA
Arrests, custody: LEA
COORDINATION BETWEEN STATE AND SPORTS AUTHORITIES
MATCH-FIXING
« SPORTING FRAUD » AS A SPECIFIC CRIMINAL OFFENCE
COOPERATION: STATE AUTHORITIES-SPORTS ORGANISATIONS
•
•
Coordination criminal / disciplinary proceedings
Exchange of information (access to criminal files, etc.)
INTERNATIONAL POLICE AND JUDICIAL COOPERATION
RECOGNITION OF SPORTS BODIES’ PROPERTY RIGHTS TO THE
COMPETITIONS THEY ORGANISE
SPECIFIC PREVENTION PROGRAMS
UEFA ACTION – SOME MAIN ACTION LINES
Support to international efforts (EU, CoE, etc.)
Prevention programs
Betting Fraud Detection System (monitoring of matches)
Integrity officers
Cooperation with international bodies (Interpol, Europol, Eurojust, IAP)
Cooperation with betting operators (MoUs with European Lotteries, Betfair)
Cooperation with other sports organisations (FIFA, IOC, etc.)
RESULTS – SOME EXAMPLES
•
Players suspended for long periods of time (2 years to life ban)
•
Referees banned for life
•
Pobeda suspended from European competitions for 8 years
•
Olympiakos Volou excluded from UEL 2011-12
•
Fenerbahçe withdrawn from UCL 2011-12
•
Investigations in several countries (Greece, Italy, etc.)
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION !