Industry Concerns Over Match Fixing Threat

Concerns over match fixing and online irregular betting activities, has prompted UEFA and over twenty other International sports bodies to attempt to gain better protection from Brussels. At a meeting in Brussels on the 4th December, Industry representatives expressed their concern over the increase in online sports betting and the integrity of the sports industry as a whole. They have joined together to explore how all the world sporting events can maintain their integrity in the face of the vast and rapid growth in online sports betting products. The online betting industry allows not only for the backing but also the laying of bets on the predicted outcome of sports events worldwide, so it is essential that worries about match fixing are not allowed to take hold.

The Industry representatives that included members from the Cricket, Football, Rugby, Tennis, Basketball and horseracing world suggested that a ‘Competition Organisers Right’ would ensure that there was a fair return for members and would also be a very positive development for the sports industry as a whole.

It is believed by the Industry representatives that the public’s trust in the integrity of competitions must be upheld at all costs and that sporting organisers must ensure that all those involved are in fact competing against each other fairly and of course are playing at all times to win and that all suspicions regarding match fixing are allayed. The increase in irregular online sports betting patterns is of huge concern to the industry and represents a major threat to not only the sporting industry and authorities but also to the online sports betting consumer. It was therefore considered paramount for a framework to be created to preserve all competitions from the threat of corruption and to ultimately keep the public’s faith in all sporting events that take place.

There will no doubt be more news on this very serious subject so we will keep you updated as to all developments from Brussels.