53 arrested for match fixing in football, tennis, & table tennis events across 20 countries

BOXSCORE | LYON (March 12, 2024) INTERPOL has released its bi-weekly "Integrity in Sport" which monitors major developments in corruption in sport around the world.INVESTIGATIONS
In Formula 1, the head of the International Automobile Federation has been accused of using his position to influence and overturn a decision against a driver, and so impacted the final result.

A League of Ireland player is praised for reporting an attempted spot fixing approach, prompting a Garda investigation, with both FAI and PFAI emphasizing the importance of vigilance and education in preventing such incidents.

Led by the Spanish National Police, a total of 53 individuals were arrested in Madrid and Guadalajara for their role in fixing football, tennis, and table tennis matches across 20 countries, resulting in estimated winnings of EUR 2 million. The operation, supported by Europol, INTERPOL and the Spanish Tax Agency, also revealed sophisticated methods of livestream manipulation and money laundering.

Felony identity theft charges against four Iowa State athletes were dropped after prosecutors requested dismissal due to evidence obtained through warrantless searches. The athletes allegedly bet using others' accounts, and defense attorneys argued the searches violated their rights.



Former Attard FC member Rudgear Scerri's sentence for match-fixing in Malta was increased on appeal, emphasizing the country's strict stance against corruption in sports. Initially sentenced to two years in prison, his sentence was adjusted to six months in jail with additional long-term restrictions, highlighting the gravity of sports-related corruption.

Daniel Esteves suspended for a season and fined for involvement in sports betting, having placed over 663 bets during the 2021/22 season while playing for Marinhense, leading to a tumultuous relationship with teammates and affecting his performance.



Research of Bournemouth University (BU) indicates that the virtual avatars or characters in e-sports can be used to manipulate the course of an e-sports competitions, for example by manipulating the participants bodyweight in the avatar or online character.

Offshore betting operators exploit Curaçao licenses, facilitating illegal betting in Brazil and beyond, with lax regulations and little recourse for bettors.

UFDS Annual Report: Betting Corruption and Match-Fixing in 2023. Sportradar Integrity Services’ report into match-fixing and betting corruption in 2023 highlights the extent of match-fixing and the steps being taken to address it.

A new IBIA and H2 Gambling Capital study looks at the impact of a wide availability of sports betting products in jurisdictions on sports integrity, consumer protection and tax revenue.

A new IOC and UNODC guide on the prosecution of cases of competition manipulation, looks at the challenges relating to prosecuting cases of competition manipulation, and sets out a recommended framework for doing so.

The international cycling federation (UCI) launched a campaign aimed at cycling stakeholders to raise awareness on all forms of competition manipulation.



The CSCF Foundation and Bulgaria's Ministry of Youth and Sports hosted a key conference in Sofia, uniting stakeholders to combat sports and esports crimes under the Integrisport 3.0 project. With extensive participation, including from sports federations, international bodies and INTERPOL, the event focused on strategic planning to address challenges and uphold sports integrity through collaboration and dialogue.



The Dutch gaming authority reports an 85% decrease in suspicious sports competitions reported by operators in 2023, potentially due to operators' unawareness of reporting procedures.

Former Punjab FC owner Ranjit Bajaj alleges widespread match-fixing in Indian football leagues, pointing to shared ownership among clubs and offers to manipulate matches.

In the United States, a university basketball team said it is reviewing a game following reports of suspicious betting on the point spread or point difference.



In Brazil, the court overturned a prison sentence for bribery and corruption involving the president of the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, on grounds of incompetence.

In Spain, prosecutors want the head coach of the Real Madrid team jailed for not declaring earnings to the tax office.