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The key conclusions of the 2021 Global Report on Corruption in Sport were reflected in recent discussions at the global anti-corruption conference hosted by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Atlanta. The UNODC analysis exposed the growing threat of illicit betting, which is fueling professional sports’ enormous financial currents due to globalization and technology advancements.
Leading international efforts to fight sports-related crimes, UNODC projects a startling surge in organized crime-controlled illegal betting markets, where bets have reached an astounding $1.7 trillion. The seriousness of the situation was emphasized by James Porteous, Research Head of the Asian Racing Federation Council on Anti-illicit Betting and Related Financial Crime, who named illicit betting as the “number one factor fuelling corruption in sports.” Porteous also drew attention to the outdated rules, which were written in the 19th century and are inappropriate for the internet era.
During the meeting, officials from the criminal justice system emphasized the seriousness of the corruption issue. The coordinator of INTERPOL’s Anti-Corruption Unit, Humaid Al Ameemi, shed light on the complex network of match-fixing, a highly organized crime that involves money laundering and other illegal acts. Calling for increased data exchange, Al Ameemi described match manipulation as a “gateway to crime.” These views were mirrored by Joseph Gillespie, Chief of the FBI’s Transnational Organized Crime Threats Unit, who emphasized the Bureau’s dedication to combating corruption in sports.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC), UNODC, and INTERPOL worked together to provide a roadmap for policymakers that facilitated the efficient investigation of competition manipulation. Anita DeFrantz, an IOC member and medallist from the 1976 Games, emphasized the vital role that the International Partnership Against Corruption in Sport (IPACS) plays in promoting cooperation between law enforcement and athletic organizations.
Since FIFA has had scandals and criminal charges, football, the most popular sport in the world, is especially susceptible to corruption. A turning point was the 2015 arrest of many FIFA officials. In a video address to the conference, FIFA President Gianni Infantino reaffirmed the organization’s dedication to shielding sport from corruption. Over 60 anti-corruption initiatives have been created by a renewed Memorandum of Understanding between FIFA and UNODC, most notably the Global Integrity Programme that addresses match-fixing.
Following these actions, the UNODC took an active position in the FIFA World Cup Integrity Task Force in Qatar, monitoring 64 matches for possible match tampering and not receiving any threats reported to the Task Force.