Money Laundering through the Football Sector

Money Laundering through the Football Sector – July 2009
combat the problems. Roemer mentioned FATF as the first most appropriate institution to collaborate
with. 31
121. Concerning the betting and match-fixing issues, UEFA stated during a UEFA disciplinary
workshop in January 2009 that “an increasing challenge for football comes from betting and possible
match manipulation – an area endangering football's integrity”. UEFA's determined response to the
challenge posed is, among other things, the reinforcement of UEFA's disciplinary services by improving
the UEFA fraud detection system, through the recruitment of additional staff, in particular with specific
experience in criminal investigation and sports betting. UEFA is also co-operating with a number of
specialist partners in monitoring betting on UEFA matches, and the systematic collection of live official
data from UEFA matches will help the monitoring process in the future. UEFA's fraud detection policy
provides for comprehensive investigation of any alleged cases, and disciplinary action will follow against
offenders. An UEFA delegation met recently with the largest bookmakers in Asia to find a way of efficient
reporting of irregular betting patterns related to European matches.
122. From the season 2009-2010, UEFA will run a Europe-wide Fraud Detection System including the
monitoring of all European domestic top 2 division matches and national cup fixtures of all 53 national
associations affiliated to UEFA. These national associations will be informed about irregular betting
patterns for their matches and guided in the subsequent disciplinary proceedings.
123. A recent example of UEFA‟s initiative can be illustrated by the decision taken by the UEFA in
April 2009 regarding a club from the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. This club was banned from
UEFA competitions for eight years for match-fixing. The UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body added that
the club president and a player have also been banned for life as a result of the investigation. Charges were
brought against the club due to reports of irregular betting patterns and statements from a number of
witnesses.
Football Associations
124. In December 2007 English Football Association came up with an extensive guidance for football
clubs “Money Laundering and The Proceeds of Crime Act” 32 . This document was prepared in response to
requests from professional and semi-professional clubs for more guidance in this area. The document
sought to provide clubs with an overview of the main UK legislation concerning money laundering and the
proceeds of crime on legislation; to set out steps a club might take in the event of a suspicious transaction;
and to summarise some preventative measures that clubs might take to protect themselves.
125. According to this guidance, there are many transactions that take place within football clubs
which have the potential to involve money laundering, no matter how reputable the other party may be in
the transaction. Consequently, clubs should ask themselves various questions when carrying out
transactions, for example: “Do you know exactly whom you are dealing with?”, “Have you properly
identified and verified the persons that you are doing business with?”, “Do you know how the
purchaser/investor/trader/agent has found the funds to pay you?”
126. The guidance also highlights that the repressive anti-money laundering legislation is applicable to
sporting clubs. At a preventive level, even though clubs are not directly subject to AML legislation, some
of their activities fall within the scope of the law which applies to “relevant businesses” defined in the
Regulations such as accountants, banks and solicitors, as well as other that carry out activities that clubs
may be involved in such as accepting deposits, dealing in investments and dealing in goods of any
31 Roemer, H. (2006).
32 The Football Association (2008).
34 - © 2009 FATF/OECD