10 Oct 2011

Blog - Fighting match fixing top priority for UEFA

Blog - Fighting match fixing top priority for UEFA  news article image

By Pierre Cornu, Chief Counsel - Integrity and Regulatory Affairs, UEFA

Match fixing is a serious threat to sport. Various sports are affected, but football is especially exposed because of its huge popularity and the high visibility that goes with it. The threat of match fixing has become even more acute since the advent of online betting, which allows bets to be placed not only on the final result of a match but also on relatively minor – and therefore easier to influence – occurrences, such as the first yellow card or first free-kick.

UEFA has made the fight against match fixing one of its top priorities and practises a strict policy of zero tolerance. Action has already been taken: establishment of a system to monitor betting patterns across all UEFA matches and all top division and cup matches of all UEFA’s member associations; strengthening of regulatory provisions; creation of a network of integrity officers (one per UEFA member association) to ensure coordination between UEFA and its member associations on the one hand, and between the associations and their local authorities on the other; creation of an integrity database; cooperation with various institutions, in particular criminal prosecution bodies; preventive measures; opening of a special telephone line (integrity line) to encourage whistleblowing; etc.

This action has already paid off: clubs, officials, players and referees have been severely punished for match-fixing offences. In other cases, inquiries are under way. The measures taken have also clearly deterred potential offenders from going any further (fewer alerts in European competition matches, for example). Stepping up the fight against match fixing entails, in particular, making changes to national legislation, as, for example, has already been done in France, Italy, Poland and Spain (adoption of criminal provisions to crack down specifically on fraud in sport).

Betting laws also need to be adapted to the current situation. UEFA is actively supporting the efforts of the EU and the Council of Europe in these two areas. Naturally, UEFA intends to pursue its own efforts by all appropriate means and is prepared to work with any other body that is also keen to eradicate this phenomenon.

Pierre Cornu, is Chief Counsel, Integrity and Regulatory Affairs in UEFA and speaking on the Sport and Recreation Alliance EU summit: Finding funding and fighting fixing

Latest News

28 Mar 2025

Parliamentary launch for new EMD UK and Alliance report highlighting immense social value of group exercise

The Sport and Recreation Alliance were delighted to facilitate a Parliamentary launch for a new research report ‘The Social Value of Group Exercise’, commissioned by EMD UK, the national governing body for group exercise.

Read more Arrow Right
27 Mar 2025

Spring Statement: Sport, recreation and physical activity sector urges Government to protect investment to boost health and growth

The National Sector Partners Group* (NSPG) has issued the following statement in response to the Chancellor’s Spring Statement.

Read more Arrow Right
26 Mar 2025

Sport and Recreation Alliance CEO Gives Evidence to DCMS Select Committee

On 25 March, CEO of the Sport and Recreation Alliance Lisa Wainwright MBE gave evidence to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee’s Game On Inquiry in Parliament.

Read more Arrow Right

Become a member

Joining the Sport and Recreation Alliance is pretty simple, but worthwhile!

Register now

Our Partners

Admincontrol logoAir IT logoGateley Legal logohelp me Angela logoHowden logoMarsh Sport logoSport:80 logoZellar logo93FT logo