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INTERPOL Integrity in Sport Bi-Weekly Bulletin - 4 June 2019 - 17 June

French Football

France's Service Central des Courses et Jeux (SCCJ) opened an investigation for organized crime, bribery and money laundering following the football matches between Sochaux-Grenoble and Rodez-Lyon Duchère.

The President of the Spanish Football Association (RFEF) will be investigated as part of wider probe into corruption in La Liga. The former president of the Afghanistan Football Federation (AFF) has been banned from soccer for life after FIFA’s ethics committee found him guilty of abusing his position and sexually abusing female players.

In Georgia, five soccer players have been banned after admitting their role in a match-fixing case. In Russia, three soccer players have been banned for three years each in a match-fixing case.

The Electronic Sports League (ESL) found Black Dragons guilty of unsportsmanlike behaviour and providing misleading information during a LATAM Pro League Season 9. As a result of the ruling, Black Dragons have received two major penalty points in total, one for not being able to show up on schedule, and the other for deliberately causing internet issues that led to them intentionally forfeiting.

In the United States, seven individuals were arrested for their involvement in an illegal New York gambling operation that was linked to Costa Rica.

Italy is the 6th state that ratified the Council of Europe Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions, following ratifications by Norway, Portugal, Ukraine, Moldova and Switzerland.

Betting integrity body ESSA has relaunched as the International Betting Integrity Association in June 2019. Track and field's world governing body will change its name from the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) to World Athletics in October 2019.

In view of protecting and safeguarding the integrity of the FIFA Women’s World Cup FranceTM, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has put together a taskforce, composed by key organisations, including French authorities (ARJEL, FDJ, police), INTERPOL, the Council of Europe’s Group of Copenhagen (GoC) and the Global Lottery Monitoring System (GLMS).

INTERPOL and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) have provided integrity in sport investigators’ training for law enforcement agencies and sports governing bodies to strengthen Portugal’s efforts in investigating and sanctioning competition manipulation in sports. The two-day event <https://www.interpol.int/News-and-Events/News/2019/INTERPOL-and-IOC-enhancing-sports-corruption-investigation-in-Portugal> (4 and 5 June) was hosted in close cooperation with the Portuguese Judiciary Police and the Olympic Committee of Portugal, with the support of Sportradar.

Lastly, we would like to share with you the Badminton World Federation (BWF) 2018 Annual Report, in particular Chapter 5 <https://annualreport.bwfbadminton.com/2018/80-1> which includes the integrity report Sport Integrity – Clean and Fair Competition.

We welcome submissions on best practices, major developments, new trends and relevant articles for publication in the bulletin.

The next bi-weekly bulletin will be circulated on Monday, 1 July 2019.

INVESTIGATIONS

France

L2-National: soupçons de matchs truqués pour Sochaux-Grenoble et Rodez-Lyon Duchère

Les matchs Sochaux-Grenoble (Ligue 2) et Rodez-Lyon Duchère (National), joués le 17 mai en dernière journée de championnat, font l'objet d'une enquête préliminaire ouverte jeudi à Paris, a appris ce dimanche l'AFP auprès du parquet, confirmant une information de L'Equipe. Le parquet de Paris a ouvert jeudi une enquête préliminaire pour "escroquerie en bande organisée", "corruption active et passive", "blanchiment aggravé" et "association de malfaiteurs délictuelle", confiée au Service central des courses et jeux (SCCJ) de la police judiciaire. A cette heure, aucune salve de paris suspects n'a été détectée par les instructeurs en charge de l'enquête. Les investigations, menées par le Service central des courses et jeux, auraient été initiées par un signalement du journaliste indépendant Romain Molina, prévenu en amont des deux résultats.

Source: AFP, 9 June 2019, BFM

Football

https://rmcsport.bfmtv.com/football/l2-national-soupcons-de-matches-truques-pour-sochaux-grenoble-et-rodez-lyon-duchere-1708511.html

Madagascar

Confederation of African Football head released in France without charge

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Ahmad Ahmad was released without charge on Friday after being arrested for questioning regarding a corruption investigation, according to the Marseille public prosecutor. Ahmad was arrested in connection with an investigation looking into criminal conspiracy, corruption, breach of trust and forgery, said prosecutor Xavier Tarabeux. The football president, from Madagascar, was in Paris to attend the annual governing body of world football, or FIFA, conference, where he also serves as FIFA vice president.

Ahmad, a former Malagasy government minister, named last March in a document sent to the FIFA ethics committee, was allegedly forcing his secretary general, Amr Fahmy, to pay bribes. Fahmy had brought the accusations to the committee saying that Ahmad ordered him to pay some 18,000-euro bribes to the accounts of presidents of various African football associations, according to a document seen by Reuters news agency. The secretary general, who was fired in April, also accused Ahmad of increasing CAF expenses when ordering supplies through Tactical Steel, an intermediary French company, instead of directly ordering supplies from manufacturers.

Other accusations include that the CAF president sexually harassed four women without indicting their names, and that he increased the number of Moroccan employees in CAF, which goes against CAF rules. The final accusation said that Ahmad spent more than 350,000 euros on a satellite office that was set up for him in Madagascar, including buying cars there and in Egypt. FIFA had launched an investigation into these allegations after a number of corruption scandals since 2015 tarnished its image. FIFA said on Thursday that it wants to “eradicate… at all levels of football” any egregious behavior.

Source: 8 June 2019, RFI Football

https://en.rfi.fr/sports/20190607-confederation-african-football-head-released-france-without-charge

Spain

Real Valladolid vs. Valencia Match-Fixing Confirmed by Recorded Phone Calls

Recorded phone calls intercepted by Spanish police have confirmed that match-fixing took place during Valencia's 2-0 win at Real Valladolid on the final matchday of La Liga's season.

El Mundo (h/t Marca) released the recordings after Valladolid midfielder Borja Fernandez and former players Carlos Aranda and Raul Bravo were charged with crimes including corruption in sport. The trio were released on bail after appearing before a judge.

In one of the recordings released, Aranda said: "Seven players were bribed, no more. Bet €10,000 and you will win €20,000."

He also told a friend in another phone conversation:

"Look mate, Valencia are winning the first half and the second, OK?

"Listen to me, they're winning the first and second half, OK?

"So, they win the first half and the match as well; not that they win, that they have to score two goals in two halves, that they win the first and second...

"Look, you know what it is, no one can know, but you know what it is. No one. No one means no one; no one, not your friends, not anyone."

Los Che won the match thanks to goals either side of half-time from Carlos Soler and Rodrigo, and in doing so they secured UEFA Champions League qualification for next season.

Valencia and Getafe went into the final matchday level on 58 points, with a fourth-place finish on the line. While the former beat Valladolid 2-0, the latter were held to a 2-2 draw by Villarreal.

Per Kieran Canning of Agence France-Presse, there have been no suggestions of wrongdoing on Valencia's part:

According to El Mundo, Bravo met Fernandez in Valladolid, while evidence also pointed to a meeting between players at the home of on-loan Valladolid winger Keko.

Valladolid finished 16th in the table, having secured safety from relegation ahead of the final weekend with back-to-back wins in their previous two matches.

Source: Christopher Simpson, 4 June 2019, Bleacher Report

Football

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2839363-real-valladoid-vs-valencia-match-fixing-confirmed-by-recorded-phone-calls

Spain

Spanish Football Chief Luis Rubiales investigated in match fixing claims

The President of the Spanish Football Association (RFEF) Luis Rubiales will be investigated as part of wider probe into corruption in La Liga.

Following reports at the back end of the 2018-19 season, of irregular betting patterns in games involving Valencia CF, Huesca, Nastic and Real Valladolid, the so-called Operation Oikos has been launched.

According to reports in Marca this weekend, the investigation's lead judge Angel de Pedro has drafted a 1000 word dossier on the case, with Rubiales been looked at for his potential role.

Rubiales is not directly being investigated for betting activity, but for a wider irregularity that has been uncovered by the investigation.

He is being looked into by the Spanish police and judicial system, amid other allegations that he was involved in an unofficial deal between sports author Jose Antonio Marin (Peton), former Huesca club president Agustin Lasaosa and ex Aragonese Football Federation (FAF) president Oscar Fle.

According to preliminary documents from the investigation, there is a claim that "Peton" agreed to write a book on the history of the RFEF, in exchange for Fle being granted a contract for improvements to Huesca ground - under the tenure of Lasaosa.

The allegation is that this agreement was not officially ratified by the RFEF, and in turn by Rubiales, who allowed the deal to to be unofficially agreed.

So far, Peton has been the only individual contacted regarding the allegations - which he has denied.

"A new pitch was promised to Huesca by the RFEF four years ago.

"But despite promises, it was never constructed.

"Rubiales also spoke with me via telephone, and he confirmed he was aware of the offer, but that they did not have the budget for it.

"The suggestion that the FAF was given preferential treatment over the Huesca project, by the RFEF, is wrong."

Source: Football Espana staff, 15 June 2019, Football Espana

Football

https://www.football-espana.net/78730/spanish-football-chief-luis-rubiales-investigated-match-fixing-claims

SENTENCES/SANCTIONS

Afghanistan

Soccer: Former Afghan soccer president banned for life

(Reuters) - The former president of the Afghanistan Football Federation (AFF) has been banned from soccer for life after FIFA’s ethics committee found him guilty of abusing his position and sexually abusing female players, the global soccer body said on Saturday. Keramuddin Keram, also a former FIFA Standing Committee member, was accused by at least five Afghan female soccer players of repeated sexual abuse between 2013-18, FIFA said in a statement. He was also fined 1,000,000 Swiss francs ($1.01 million).

The AFF could not immediately be reached for comment. It has previously rejected the allegations as “groundless”. Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani ordered an investigation after Britain’s Guardian newspaper reported in November that senior figures linked to the Afghan women’s team had alleged that some players had been molested by officials from the federation. According to the Guardian, the alleged abuse took place inside the federation’s headquarters in Afghanistan as well as at a training camp in Jordan last February. FIFA, which began its investigation in December when it suspended Keram, said he had breached ethics code rules on protection of physical and mental integrity and abuse of position. The ban applies to any kind of football-related activity.

The national women’s team was formed in 2010. Some conservative-minded Afghans oppose women playing sports. The allegations left the women’s team in tatters and prompted a loss of sponsorship. In March, an Afghan federation official said friendly matches scheduled for outside Afghanistan had been canceled because so many players had stopped training since the allegations emerged. Many parents, alarmed by public treatment of female players, urged their daughters to give up soccer.

Afghanistan is ranked as one of the most dangerous countries for women and allegations of sexual contact outside marriage can have deadly consequences. Victims of sexual harassment are often extremely reluctant to come forward for fear that they will be accused of adultery.

Dubai-based Alokozay Group, a company with a ubiquitous presence in Kabul selling soft drinks, tissues and tea, pulled its $850,000 annual contribution to the federation in February, following Danish sports brand Hummel, which canceled its sponsorship in late November. Alokozay blamed an administrative vacuum resulting from the allegations and Hummel cut ties with the AFF, citing its “unacceptable behavior”.

Source: Reporting by Peter Hall and Brian Homewood; editing by Clare Fallon, 8 June 2019, Reuters

Football

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-afghanistan-soccer-women/soccer-former-afghan-soccer-president-banned-for-life-idUSKCN1T90HZ

Georgia

Match-fixing: Georgia bans five as Kaladze promises tough justice for fixers

June 10 – Five players, who admitted their role in a matchfixing scam in Georgia, have all been banned. The five all play for FC Wit Georgia and have been named as Giorgi Getiashvili, Joni Sherozia, Nikoloz Maisuradze, Nodar Kiknavelidze and Paata Ghudushauri. Last month, 11 players in Georgia were arrested on suspicion of match-fixing and face lengthy prison sentences. The State Security Service said they included eight current and three former players in the country’s two top divisions. Kakha Kaladze (pictured), a two-time Champions League winner who is now mayor of Tbilisi, condemned match-fixing in a television interview. “For me, as a former player, such actions are unacceptable and everyone needs to pay the price for such actions,” he told Georgian TV. “This is not sport, it is something else.” The security service said the players were approached by an “organised group” which made 93,500 lari ($34,000) off the scam. Authorities showed video footage of what they said was the group of match-fixers discussing the game and later receiving money.

Source: Andrew Warshaw, 10 June 2019, Inside World Football

Football

https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2019/06/10/match-fixing-georgia-bans-five-kaladze-promises-tough-justice-fixers/

Russia

3 Russian soccer players banned over match-fixing

MOSCOW (AP) -- Three Russian soccer players have been banned for three years each in a match-fixing case. The three, all defenders for third-tier club Chernomorets Novorossiisk, were allegedly offered money to lose a game against promotion-chasing Chaika Peschanokopskoye last month. The Chernomorets coach was also suspended for a year, and there was also a one-year ban for the CEO of Urozhai Krasnodar, a club fighting Chaika for promotion. The CEO, Dmitry Gradilenko, had allegedly offered bonuses to the Chernomorets team to play well against Chaika. Chaika won the game 3-1 and later secured promotion. There was no word on whether any Chaika personnel knew of the supposed fix, or whether the result will be overturned, though investigations by the Russian soccer union and police continue.

Source: The Associated Press, 7 June 2019, Yahoo! Sports

Football

https://sports.yahoo.com/3-russian-soccer-players-banned-over-match-fixing-133538826--sow.html?soc_src=community&soc_trk=tw&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly90LmNvL1d4UWMxMlpPQms_YW1wPTE&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAJgq-MwtcAuqaVJOz5ipOyaw_8rNjs04DyFjhKpczXPBvjZwq-IQmxfYabJk10eRzWKRpe2Rbo1mCU3mf4DpVBaRK-FmOzfoeao5Q-q1UBnvK-uoamTei4YOs-5pREU6_d5qtl99TuftWSuDt6ojZpxCOM1AT3U_XOtsWDjlEtVO&guccounter=2

LEGISLATION

Italy

Italy ratifies the Macolin Convention

Italy has ratified the Council of Europe Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions, during a ceremony on June 11 at the Palais de l’Europe, with Deputy Secretary General Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni and Ambassador Michele Giacomelli, Permanent Representative of Italy to the Council of Europe. Italy is the 6th state that ratified, following the ratifications by Norway, Portugal, Ukraine, Moldova and Switzerland. The Convention will be now entering into force on 1 September 2019. Within 12 months from the date of the entry into force, the Council of Europe needs to set up and convene the Follow-Up Committee. The states that have ratified will be represented in this Committee.

Source: 12 June 2019, GLMS

https://glms-sport.org/news/italy-ratifies-the-macolin-convention/

BETTING

Costa Rica & United States

New York gambling ring with ties to Costa Rica busted

Seven people are looking at possibly spending some time behind bars for their involvement in an illegal New York gambling operation that was linked to Costa Rica. According to a report by New York’s QNS media, acting Queens District Attorney John Ryan, the bookmaking operation used an 800 number and a wire room based in Costa Rica to take illegal bets on sporting events from January 2016 until the June 4 raid.

Arrested in the June 4 raid were: Michael Regan, 61, who was the apparent leader of the gang; Luan Bexheti, 47; Gerald Schneider, 67; Lisa Nino, 36; John Ottomano, 53; Robert Utnick, 54; Robert Brieger, 70, was arrested in Costa Rica and is waiting to be extradited back to the U.S.

The seven face a 39-count indictment with crimes that include the promotion of gambling, conspiracy, enterprise corruption and money laundering. Bettors were apparently able to contact the platform through its website, a toll-free number, agents or in person at the Astoria, N.Y. office. Police established that Regan allegedly oversaw the entire operation, taking a cut of every placed bet for himself, while Brieger allegedly worked as Regan’s master agent, head clerk and accounts manager.

Putting these kinds of illegal enterprises out of business, saves untold numbers of people from financial devastation,” Queens Acting District Attorney John M. Ryan said in a statement. The news comes soon after a man linked to the Genovese crime family pleaded guilty in New Jersey for illegal gambling operations that were also tied to Costa Rica.

Source: 8 June 2019, Q Costa Rica

https://qcostarica.com/new-york-gambling-ring-with-ties-to-costa-rica-busted/

DOPING

Union of European Football Associations (UEFA)

Programme de lutte contre le dopage lors de la phase finale de l’UEFA Nations League

L’unité Services antidopage de l’UEFA vient de soumettre les joueurs des quatre équipes qualifiées pour la phase finale de l’UEFA Nations League à un programme complet de contrôles antidopage, afin de s’assurer que tous les participants soient sur un pied d’égalité.

Le coup d’envoi de la toute première phase finale de l’UEFA Nations League devant être donné tout prochainement, l’unité Services antidopage de l’UEFA a soumis les joueurs des quatre équipes qualifiées – le Portugal, pays organisateur, l’Angleterre, les Pays-Bas et la Suisse – à un programme complet de contrôles antidopage, afin de garantir que tous les participants soient sur un pied d’égalité.

En 2019, 169 échantillons ont été prélevés par l’UEFA et par les organisations nationales antidopage (ONAD) sur les joueurs qui participeront à cette phase finale. Au total, 84 de ces échantillons ont été prélevés après un match, et 85 lors de séances d’entraînement ou au domicile des joueurs.

Tous ces échantillons ont été analysés par des laboratoires accrédités par l’Agence mondiale antidopage (AMA), et tous les résultats se sont révélés négatifs. En outre, les contrôleurs antidopage ont prélevé 20 échantillons supplémentaires sur les joueurs aux hôtels des équipes suite à leur arrivée au Portugal.

Ces analyses seront réalisées dans les 48 heures, afin que les résultats soient connus avant les demi-finales, le Portugal rencontrant la Suisse à Porto mercredi et les Pays-Bas affrontant l’Angleterre à Guimaraes jeudi.

L’UEFA a signé des accords de collaboration avec les ONAD des quatre nations participantes. Ces accords de collaboration permettent à l’UEFA et aux ONAD de gérer les programmes complets du passeport biologique de l’athlète (PBA) pour ces joueurs.

Le PBA est employé pour suivre l’évolution de certaines variables biologiques au fil du temps, qui pourrait indiquer les effets de substances dopantes sur l’organisme. Un outil statistique utilise les données provenant de chaque échantillon précédent du joueur pour établir une limite personnalisée pour tout futur échantillon. Un échantillon qui dépasserait cette limite individuelle pourrait indiquer un cas de dopage et demanderait un examen supplémentaire.

Collaborer avec les ONAD sur ces PBA garantit que tous les échantillons prélevés sur un athlète, quelle que soit l’organisation responsable du contrôle, sont stockés sur le même passeport. Ce processus assure des données plus complètes et des limites individuelles plus précises. Il y a ainsi moins de chance qu’un joueur triche.

Les accords de collaboration prévoient également le partage des informations sur la localisation et des programmes de contrôle des joueurs avec les ONAD. Le partage des informations sur la localisation implique que les équipes peuvent être contrôlées sans préavis lors des séances d’entraînement. Quant au partage des programmes de contrôle, il garantit un programme équilibré et réfléchi.

L’UEFA dispose d’un programme complet de stockage des échantillons, dans le cadre duquel tous les échantillons prélevés sur les joueurs participant à nos compétitions d’élite sont stockés pendant une durée allant jusqu’à 10 ans, afin de permettre de nouvelles analyses futures.

Ainsi, de nouvelles analyses utilisant les toutes dernières méthodes scientifiques ont été réalisées sur 19 échantillons prélevés en 2015 sur des joueurs des équipes d’Angleterre, des Pays-Bas, du Portugal et de la Suisse, afin de vérifier si les résultats étaient toujours négatifs, avant le début du tournoi.

Source: 4 June 2019, UEFA

https://fr.uefa.com/insideuefa/protecting-the-game/anti-doping/news/newsid=2608459.html

GOOD PRACTICES

France

GLMS actively contributes to the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™ Integrity Taskforce

In line with ongoing measures in place to protect and safeguard the integrity of the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™, FIFA has put together a taskforce, composed by key organisations, including French authorities (ARJEL, FDJ, police), INTERPOL and the Council of Europe’s Group of Copenhagen (GoC). GLMS is the only Global non-for-profit monitoring association that supports this significant initiative.

Regular meetings and conference calls are organised throughout the duration of the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™ (7 June 2019 – 7 July 2019) in which the various partners involved share information and experiences in relation to the different matches. GLMS Operations team is closely monitoring all matches of the competition and regularly updating stakeholders in case of any irregularities, should any occur.

Commenting on this development, GLMS President, Ludovico Calvi states: “I am glad that FIFA is so proactive in terms of the monitoring of the FIFA Women’s World Cup and as an important stakeholder to the ongoing integrity work FIFA carries out, GLMS is honoured to actively support the significant effort that is being undertaken by FIFA to safeguard the integrity of the competition. The FIFA Women’s World Cup is inspiring and empowering millions of women across the world. Keeping the competition clean and protecting football core values is vital to achieve these societal objectives.

FIFA Director of Integrity & Institutional Legal, Oliver Jaberg, added “GLMS has been a significant and trusted stakeholder for us and the information and regular alerts we receive play an important role in integrity work FIFA carries out. We are glad that GLMS has so enthusiastically accepted to be part of this taskforce and has been constructively contributing to this work since the very beginning.

Source: 14 June 2019, GLMS

Football

https://glms-sport.org/non-classe/glms-actively-contributes-to-the-fifa-womens-world-cup-france-2019-integrity-taskforce/

ODDS AND ENDS

Brazil

Sportradar announces Casa de Apostas as Official Betting Partner of Four Top Brazilian League Football Clubs

Casadeapostas.com, a client of Betradar – the world’s leading provider of sports and betting-related data services – is making its mark on the thriving Brazilian market by sponsoring top football clubs Bahia, Botafogo, Cruzeiro and Santos.

As part of the partnerships, Brazil-based Casadeapostas.com is benefitting from front-of-shirt exposure as well as access to a tailored package of rights for each club, featuring digital and activation opportunities to engage with fans of the country’s most popular sport.

All four clubs currently compete in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A which runs until December 2019.

The partnership opportunities were facilitated by Sportradar’s holistic marketing solution ad:s, which capitalises on the company’s unique position at the intersection of the sports and betting industries to deliver tailormade marketing proposals that help bookmakers stand out from the crowd.

Casadeapostas.com is part of a growing number of betting businesses looking to streamline and maximise their advertising and sponsorship opportunities through ad:s.

Hans Schleier at Casadeapostas.com said: “We are very proud to partner with each of these prominent clubs, each with their own history and successes. Casadeapostas.com are a brand with ambitious plans for our home market. We look forward to working with the clubs and Sportradar to further activate these partnerships together and bring excitement to football fans around Brazil.”

Hampus Lofkvist, Sportradar’s Director, Global Sponsorship, said: “We want to congratulate the team at Casadeapostas.com on their official partnership with four of Brazil’s top clubs. This is a major move that will enhance the brand’s visibility and connect them with fans throughout Brazil and the wider continent.

“Partnerships such as this give us further confidence that Sportradar ad:s will continue to support bookmakers around the world with their marketing efforts. We look forward to working with Casadeapostas.com and the clubs to ensure a mutually successful collaboration.

Source: 11 June 2019, Sportradar

https://www.sportradar.com/news-archive/sportradar-announces-casa-de-apostas-as-official-betting-partner-of-four-top-brazilian-league-football-clubs/

Global Lottery Monitoring System (GLMS)

GLMS reports 33 matches for suspicious betting patterns in Q1

The Global Lottery Monitoring System (GLMS) has reported 33 suspicious matches to authorities during the first quarter of 2019. The GLMS, which is comprised of European Lotteries and World Lottery Association members, revealed that a total of 198 betting alerts were generated during the period. Of these, 12 were the result of suspicious odds changes which were mainly reported during in-play, while 63 alerts related to significant odds changes that did not lead to an integrity concern after further investigation and analysis.

A further 62 alerts were created due to team related news, motivation adjustments or wrong opening prices, while the remainder were a result of information or requests from members or partners. Football generated the most alerts during Q1 with 128 alerts, followed by basketball with 37 and ice hockey with 14.

GLMS explained that its operations team generates an alert each time an irregularity in terms of betting patterns is detected. This is followed by a thorough consultation with GLMS members, as well as a deeper investigation on potential grounds that could justify the irregularity detected in the odds change.

When the irregularity cannot be justified on objective grounds, and the information received from GLMS members (also regarding the money flows) further indicate an irregularity, then GLMS' operations team reports the issue to the relevant authorities.

During Q1, the GLMS reported 33 suspicious matches to its partners out of the 198 alerts generated. The majority of these were from football, with 12 matches reported to UEFA and eight matches to FIFA. The remainder were shared with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU), La Liga, the E-sports Integrity Coalition (ESIC), Interpol, RFEF Victoria Police, the Badminton World Federation (BWF) or local gaming regulators.

GLMS is a global integrity association and, therefore, it is of the utmost importance for us to be fully transparent regarding the results of our monitoring and intelligence activities,” said GLMS president Ludovico Calvi. “2019 started very dynamically for GLMS, having reported a significant number of suspicious matches to all our members and partners. GLMS shall go on making its best efforts to further enhance the quality of our integrity operations, in the highest interest of sport Ethics and the credibility of sport.”

Source: 7 June 2019, Gaming Intelligence

https://www.gamingintelligence.com/legal/52535-glms-reports-33-matches-for-suspicious-betting-patterns-in-q1

International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF)

Track body IAAF to rebrand as World Athletics

MONACO (AP) — Track and field's world governing body is to change its name from the IAAF to World Athletics. The new name and logo will be introduced in October after one last edition of the world championships under the IAAF banner. The IAAF has kept the same initials since it was founded in 1912 as the International Amateur Athletic Federation, but changed that to International Association of Athletics Federations in 2001 as track and field became more professionalized. IAAF president Sebastian Coe says the rebranding is part of a plan to attract a younger audience. IAAF leadership has faced criticism over its handling of widespread doping, especially in Russia, and allegations of corruption among its former leadership.

Source: 9 June 2019, Yahoo! Sports

Athletics

https://news.yahoo.com/track-body-iaaf-rebrand-world-122636726.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAMrF3NpPmmgoUL-AwIBYpHl3XKQYprkIKOcF58cE3gVrDTAou2HUooey3blG6Aaycw7VVUfRB26yOd6mMKfpJWlYZMqF2zb0NgmOb1_UfSbOROuJ2MxpSSeFeIxHuXS5C1xUUip3hB-86z8y9HvSzJSj0IIrCUbHIjusx9gb-9Oa

International Betting Integrity Association

ESSA relaunched as the International Betting Integrity Association

Betting integrity body ESSA has relaunched as the International Betting Integrity Association with immediate effect. The move highlights the association’s desire to better reflect the global debate around betting and integrity issues and their leading role in that discussion. The association will continue to represent many of the largest regulated sports betting operators in the world with almost 50 brands feeding into its monitoring and alert platform.

Khalid Ali, Secretary General of the International Betting Integrity Association, said: “The new name communicates who we are, what we do and where we want to be. The association has been active across six continents in recent years, with almost half of our alerts coming from outside of Europe. This activity will only increase as gambling markets around the world continue to open up to regulation.” He added: “The debate is global and our strategic focus must evolve in line with that.

Jon Russell, non-executive Chair of the association’s Board and Head of Global Trading at Betway, explained: “Our members represent a sizeable part of the worldwide regulated betting market and their business strategies reflect global ambitions. Integrity has become a key regulatory issue in that market debate, with membership of a monitoring body a licensing requirement in some cases.” Russell added: “Betting and integrity are now inseparable and I encourage all responsible operators to join us and take advantage of the multifaceted business benefits membership brings.

The International Betting Integrity Association is the leading global voice on integrity for the licensed betting industry. It is run by operators for operators, protecting its members from corruption through collective action. Its Monitoring & Alert Platform is a highly effective anti-corruption tool that detects and reports suspicious activity on its members’ betting markets. The association has longstanding information sharing partnerships with leading sports and gambling regulators to utilise its data and prosecute corruption. It represents the sector at high-level policy discussion forums.

About the International Betting Integrity Association:

The International Betting Integrity Association is the leading global voice on integrity for the licensed betting industry. Our members share a common goal of combating betting corruption to protect the integrity of sport and their businesses. Established in 2005 and formerly known as ESSA, we are a not for profit association whose members include many of the world’s largest regulated betting operators, active across six continents. Members undergo a rigorous due diligence process and must adhere to our code of conduct committing them to responsible betting practices.

The International Betting Integrity Association’s Monitoring & Alert Platform is a highly effective anti-corruption tool that detects and reports suspicious activity on its members’ betting markets. The bespoke system tracks transactional activity linked to individual consumer accounts, clearly distinguishing it from commercial monitoring systems focused on simple odds movements. The association has longstanding information sharing partnerships with leading sports bodies including FIFA, UEFA, the TIU and the IOC and many gambling regulators to utilise this data and prosecute corruption. The association maintains a policy of transparency and publishes quarterly integrity reports analysing activity reported on the Platform

Source: George Miller, 4 June 2019, European Gaming

https://europeangaming.eu/portal/press-releases/2019/06/04/46623/essa-relaunched-as-the-international-betting-integrity-association/

Spain

"El Mundo": Girona propose 21 team La Liga after match-fixing scandal

"Operation Oikos" has taken another turn today as, according to "El Mundo", Girona have entered the fray. Looking to defend their own interests, the Catalan club have proposed a La Liga of 21 teams for the 2019-20 season, until all details of the under investigation Valladolid v Valencia match are cleared up.

Girona were already relegated by the final gameday, but may have found a straw to clutch at in a faint hope of playing in Spain's top flight next season.

Real Valladolid are currently under investigation after reports suggested that some of their players were involved in an attempt to fix certain events in their final gameweek clash against Valencia.

If they are found guilty, the club could face a six point penalty, which would have been enough to take them below Girona and keep up the side from Catalunya, who finished four points behind Valladolid.

Girona have therefore made an appeal to the Spanish Football Federation to have a top division consisting of 21 teams next season - at least until the case is resolved.

And it could be that the case drags on for a while yet, meaning no punishment can be handed out to any team.

It is estimated that Real Valladolid will lose 40 million euros for their relegation - a relegation they believed should never have happened.

Real Valladolid, for their part, have distanced themselves from any wrongdoing and continue preparing for next campaign in La Liga as normal. La Liga president Javier Tebas has publicly backed the club himself, saying that he doesn't believe that any of their players were involved in any match-fixing.

Source: 11 June 2019, Be Soccer

Football

https://www.besoccer.com/new/el-mundo-girona-propose-21-team-la-liga-after-match-fixing-scandal-652093

Sweden

Svenska Spel expands anti match-fixing efforts in handball

Swedish operator Svenska Spel has expanded its partnership with the Swedish Handball Federation (SHF) to educate more young handball players in the country about the dangers of match-fixing. Launched last year, the initiative has already delivered training to senior teams in the country’s top male and female club competitions, as well as various junior sides. Svenska Spel and SHF have now extended the reach of this education to Swedish national youth teams, including the men’s under-19 side and women’s under-17 and under-19 teams.

The expanded program includes "My Match", an online education initiative that players can access directly from their mobile devices or computer. “It is important that we within the handball market take the issue of gambling seriously and that we start with preventive work at an early age,” SHF secretary general, Robert Wedberg, said. Dan Korhonen, product manager and head of sports betting at Svenska Spel, added: “As a partner to the SHF and the Swedish National Sports Association, it is important for us that the issue of match-fixing is highlighted and that both young and adult athletes receive education. “Fixed matches are devastating for sport and as the sports biggest sponsor in Swden, we will never give up the fight against match-fixing.”

The move comes after Svenska Spel last week also joined forces with Swedish Elite Football (SEF), an organisation that represents the 32 clubs in the country’s top two division, to educate footballers about match-fixing at annual youth tournament, the Gothia Cup. Svenska Spel and SEF will deliver lectures to players about the dangers of match-fixing in football, with the focus primarily in Swedish teams taking part in the event.

Source: 10 June 2019, iGaming Business

Handball

https://www.igamingbusiness.com/news/svenska-spel-expands-anti-match-fixing-efforts-handball

INTEGRITY IN SPORT EVENTS

Portugal

INTERPOL and IOC: enhancing sports corruption investigation in Portugal

LISBON, Portugal – INTERPOL and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) have provided integrity in sport investigators’ training for law enforcement agencies and sports governing bodies to strengthen Portugal’s efforts in investigating and sanctioning competition manipulation in sports.

The event brought together 40 representatives from Portuguese law enforcement and sports organizations tasked with investigating competition manipulation and wrongdoing in sports. The two-day event (4 and 5 June) was hosted in close cooperation with the Portuguese Judiciary Police and the Olympic Committee of Portugal, with the support of Sportradar.

With the Council of Europe Convention on Competition Manipulation entering into force on 1st September of this year, Joao Paolo Rebelo, Portugal’s Secretary of State for Youth and Sports, stressed the importance of cooperation between sports and law enforcement for effectively addressing sports corruption.

Luis Neves, National Director of Portugal’s Judicial Police, underlined the role of law enforcement in protecting the health and fairness of sport, and welcomed the opportunity to host the event to discuss the protection of the integrity of sports.

In this respect the course included practical scenario-based exercises designed to enhance relevant skills and assist in applying learning to the work environment.

José Manuel Constantino, President of the Olympic Committee of Portugal, outlined the importance of raising awareness and building capacity in sport and law enforcement to tackle competition manipulation through these training activities.

The training session was based on the INTERPOL-IOC published Handbook on Conducting Fact-Finding Inquiries into Breaches of Sports Integrity.

José de Gracia, INTERPOL Assistant Director, Criminal Networks Sub-Directorate said: “One of the key aspects of this training is that cooperation and information sharing are crucial. This is why stakeholders in law enforcement, government and sports need to come together as part of a global network to tackle competition manipulation.

Prior to the investigators’ training, INTERPOL and the IOC organized a partnership development meeting with high-level Portuguese representatives. Key stakeholders such as betting regulators and officials from government, law enforcement and judiciary, the National Olympic Committee and sports organizations met in order to help develop a coordinated national approach to protect the integrity of sport in Portugal, in line with the Council of Europe Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions and the establishment of a national platform.

INTERPOL and the IOC recently expanded their joint global capacity-building and training programme until 2021 to protect the integrity of sports.

Source: 7 June 2019, INTERPOL

https://www.interpol.int/News-and-Events/News/2019/INTERPOL-and-IOC-enhancing-sports-corruption-investigation-in-Portugal

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