The CSCF Foundation for Sports Integrity and its project partners held the IntegriSport 3.0 closing conference at Europol HQ in the Hague, Netherlands on Monday – capping a successful two-year project empowering law enforcement and judicial authorities in the fight against match-fixing.
The IntegriSport 3.0 programme, which FIFPRO is a supporting partner, has delivered practical sessions on combatting sport manipulation over the last two years in six partner countries: Austria, Bulgaria, Estonia, Greece, Romania and Spain.
The closing conference was a chance to reflect on the strides made so far, as well as gathering law enforcement agencies, judicial authorities, and sports integrity experts to discuss the future of fighting sport manipulation.
"IntegriSport 3.0 aims to improve the investigation and prosecution of sport manipulation-related crimes by training law enforcement, judicial authorities, and key stakeholders on manipulation, corruption, and related criminal activities," said CSCF Foundation for Sport Integrity Director Norbert Rubicsek.
"It’s important to stress that a united front is needed to combat sport manipulation, with stakeholders sharing knowledge and working together to tackle criminal activity and safeguard the values that make sports so special."
How FIFPRO is protecting players against match-fixing
Football is one of the most targeted sports by international organised crime, according to Europol. Those engaging in this criminal behaviour will often exploit players who are in financial difficulties, such as those not regularly receiving their salary.
To protect players and support the fight against sport manipulation, FIFPRO launched the Red Button app in 2020 which allows footballers to report match-fixing approaches safely and anonymously to national authorities such as police and government anti-corruption units.
FIFPRO Legal Director Roy Vermeer highlighted to law enforcement at the closing ceremony the realities faced by players, who are often vulnerable when it comes to match-fixing.
"When the football system consistently fails players, such as by not paying wages on time or not acting on reports, it creates an environment where criminals can exploit the situation for their own benefit," said Vermeer.
"To address this, it’s crucial to improve the system, ensure that clubs meet their fundamental responsibility of paying players, and foster close collaboration between football authorities, law enforcement, and police to safeguard players against match-fixing approaches in their workplace."
When integrity conquers: Zoran Rakic’s story
The IntegriSport 3.0 closing ceremony saw the courageous story of Serbian midfielder Zoran Rakic highlighted: when Rakic was captaining second-tier side RFK Novi Sad 1921 during their final match last season, the club president and coach ordered the players to relinquish their 2-0 lead to help their opponents avoid relegation from the second division.
Rakic rejected the approach and convinced his team-mates they had to respect the game and do their best to maintain their side’s lead. Rakic and his team-mates stood firm and won the match 2-0, upholding the integrity of the game in a country rife with match-fixing.
"Zoran and his team-mates’ story shows that players want a clean sport. We commend their courage and conviction when it came to doing the right thing by rejecting and reporting this match-fixing approach.
"FIFPRO and national player unions worldwide are dedicated to ensuring that players have a safe working environment. In the context of match-fixing, the Red Button app enables players to report any suspicious approaches anonymously, alerting law enforcement and relevant authorities in their country to take action."
