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4 • Touchline • Issue 18
SPORTS
SHORTS
REPORT STATES ILLEGAL SPORTS
BETTING RESPONSIBLE FOR
$140BN OF MONEY LAUNDERING
ICC TO INVESTIGATE LATEST
CORRUPTION ALLEGATIONS
Illegal sports betting is responsible for laundering $140 billion
and accounts for 80 per cent of all betting on sport, according
to a report produced by University Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne
and the Qatar-based International Centre for Sports Security
(ICSS).
The report is the result of two years of research. Entitled
‘Protecting the Integrity of Sports Competition – The Last
Bet for Modern Sport’ the study found that all sports across
the world are vulnerable to match fixing driven by illegal
gambling.
While football and cricket are highlighted as the most
vulnerable sports, tennis, badminton, basketball and motor
racing are also highlighted. The report concludes that it has to
be the responsibility of nations and governments rather than
sports to disrupt the organised crime networks that operate
illegal sports betting.
The report said that it is impossible to calculate the number of
illegal betting operators, but stated that 53 per cent of illegal
gambling is driven from Asia. It also found that legal sports
betting generates €4bn in taxation for governments with up to
8,000 operators basing themselves in territories with special
tax arrangements or low rates.
The ICSS said that the only way to tackle the manipulation
of sport by gambling interests is through an international
agreement. It also called on sports bodies to harmonise
their disciplinary procedures and for sports sanctions to be
complemented by criminal proceedings
The report’s recommendations included the creation of a
sports betting tax to finance investigations into match-fixing
and illegal-betting; the establishment of an integrity risk
assessment and management system for sports organisations;
and prohibiting players, coaches and administrators from
betting on competitions and matches within their sports.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has stated it will
“urgently investigate” the nature of the latest match-fixing
revelations to hit the sport and has maintained its Anti-
Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) is fit for purpose.
Recently, New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum’s statements
to the ICC’s anti-corruption investigators were leaked to the
media, including the revelation that he had turned down offers
of up to $180,000 (€131,000) to underperform in matches. This
followed media reports of former New Zealand batsman Lou
Vincent’s testimony on alleged match-fixing in cricket matches
around the world.
The ICC, which traditionally does not comment on ongoing
corruption investigations, has moved to stress that McCullum
is not under investigation and should be commended for
his actions. ICC chief executive David Richardson said the
world governing body “deeply regrets” the fact that parts of
McCullum’s statements had been made public.
Richardson did not offer further comment on the investigations
or whether they will lead to formal charges. However, he said
Vincent had “co-operated fully with the ACSU’s investigators”.
The latest development comes after the ICC said in May that it
will undertake a review of its anti-corruption measures in an
attempt to help better protect the sport.
In his latest statement, Richardson added: “The ICC can confirm
that it is doing absolutely everything in its power to fight the
threat of corruption in the sport and it will continue to do
so. We acknowledge that it is the single biggest threat to the
viability and strength of the sport. Those few unscrupulous
individuals who choose to engage in corrupt practices
threaten the very fabric, essence and integrity of a sport that
is played honestly and fairly by the overwhelming majority of
participants. It is for this reason that the ICC has always had,
and always will have, a zero tolerance approach to corruption
in the game.”