Sports betting and corruption: How to preserve the - SportAccord

Sports betting and corruption: How to preserve the integrity of sport
any case, sporting organisations MUST establish clear procedures to be followed in the event of
suspicion.
Factoring in risk by setting up dedicated structures
Following the Hansie Cronje scandal in 2000, the International Cricket Council was the first to create
diversified tools by drawing up a very strict code of conduct and establishing a dedicated unit, the
ACSU (Anti-Corruption and Security Unit) 103 . Substantial penalties exist for players, particularly if
they bet on their competitions or divulge insider information to third parties. There is also provision
for penalties in the event of passive corruption, i.e. when a player omits to notify the relevant people
of any wrongdoing of which they have been informed. The federation may also demand access to
personal information on players such as their telephone records or bank details. Lastly, the emphasis
has been placed on controlling access to players during competitions (restrictions on the use of
telephones and computers, restricted access for players entourages, etc.). A member of the cricket
anti-corruption unit attends all international matches in order to monitor the way the game unfolds,
The International Cricket Council is also endeavouring to recruit informers and contacts within illegal
betting networks, who will collect information on possible attempts at corruption, particularly in
clandestine betting networks on the Indian sub-continent.
The tools and measures implemented in cricket served as a model for the establishment in 2008 of a
dedicated Tennis Integrity Unit within the International Tennis Federation. The logic is however
slightly different because in this case it is applied to an individual sport which requires personalised
management of athletes, particularly in the matter of education. As with the ACSU model, each player
is under an obligation to answer questions and cooperate (information, telephone records, etc.), and
access restrictions have been introduced for players entourages. There are also information
programmes for younger players on the circuit. They are provided with a confidential email address
and an online interface to help them to keep up to date on issues relating to integrity (once connected a
player is required to login and the TIU can monitor the rate at which they consult information). Since
March 2011, players have also had access to an educational multimedia resource that presents the risks
in six languages. Surveillance during competitions has also been stepped up (signature of a charter by
all those holding accreditation for tournaments, prohibition of laptops within enclosures and videoing
from courtside, appointment of umpires on the morning of the match etc.).
Establishing dedicated units on the cricket and tennis models is worthwhile because it corresponds
with a good awareness of criminal threats whilst taking into account the specific features of each
sporting discipline.
UEFA has set up a network of integrity officers within each of its 54 member federations 104 . This
measure is intended to meet the need for points of contact in national federations so that information
can be exchanged if UEFA s monitoring system detects anomalies. It is also aimed at coordinating
training and awareness-raising activities. One of the objectives is of course to encourage national
federations to take increased ownership of the risk issue. Certainly UEFA is competent in the context
103 http://icc-cricket.yahoo.net/anti_corruption/overview.php
104 http://www.uefa.com/uefa/management/legal/news/newsid=1680280.html
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