On January 9, 2024, Sportradar published its ‘Integrity in Action 2024 Global Analysis & Trends’ report. The previous year's report noted that Brazil had recorded the highest number of suspicious match detections at 109 over the prior 12 months. However, this year, Brazil has shown marked improvement, with the 109 suspicious detections representing a 29% decrease from the previous year. Notably, the total number of suspicious matches in Brazil fell from 109 to 57, removing Brazil from the top spot for suspicious match detections in 2024.
Out of the 57 detections this year, only four occurred in competitions managed by the Brazil Football Confederation (CBF), accounting for a mere 0.18% of all CBF-regulated games. In comparison, Brazil reported 15 suspicious matches in CBF competitions in 2023. This decline comes as a relief to the Brazilian football and betting industries, especially in light of ongoing issues surrounding match-fixing.
In 2024, accusations of manipulation by John Textor, the American owner of Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas, sparked significant scrutiny against players from São Paulo. This led to an investigation by federal police and the establishment of a parliamentary inquiry commission (CPI) to probe into match-fixing in Brazil. The situation has generated concern within the Brazilian sports betting sector, which is preparing for regulation set for January 1, 2025.
Despite this challenge, there is hope that collaborative measures and technological tools will reduce these issues. Felippe Marchetti, Sportradar’s integrity partnership manager for Brazil, reported in an August iGB article that suspicious matches had declined by 60% in the first half of 2024. ‘Politicians are showing that they are concerned about the problem and that they want to collaborate to protect one of the cultural heritages of the country, football,’ Marchetti remarked. He also noted that increased visibility on the topic and deeper investigations could deter match-fixing in Brazil.
Looking at the broader picture, South America reported an increase of 27 suspicious match detections across all sports, totaling 245 for the region in 2024. Europe remained the most affected region overall, with 439 detections, despite a decrease of 229 compared to 2023. Asia followed with 310 suspicious reports.
Sportradar stated that Europe has traditionally faced the highest rates of match-fixing, and its findings reflect a global trend: the total number of suspicious matches across all regions fell by 17% to 1,108, down from 1,331 in the previous year. The number of countries reporting suspicious matches decreased from 105 to 95, with 99.5% of matches having no suspicious activity. The suspected manipulation rate also improved, decreasing to one in 615 from one in 467.
In this competitive landscape, football continued to experience the highest volume of manipulation cases with 721 suspicious matches, representing 65% of the total, although the number had decreased by 160 from the previous year. Basketball and tennis also had significant reports, with 187 and 69 suspicious matches, respectively.
Andreas Krannich, executive vice president for integrity, rights protection, and regulatory services at Sportradar, emphasized the need for continued efforts to combat match-fixing despite the positive trends. ‘While the notable reduction in suspicious matches in 2024 gives us reason to be optimistic, it also signals the need for continued vigilance and innovation, given that the number remains significant,’ he stated.
The Sportradar Integrity Exchange (SIE), launched in 2022, has increased its membership significantly, now comprising 117 operators, which is a 52% increase since the end of 2023. Member data has facilitated the identification of 291 suspicious matches in 2024, contributing to a total of 843 games reported, marking an 88% rise from the previous year.
Throughout the year, Sportradar assisted in resolving 18 manipulation-related disciplinary cases, with a total of 104 sporting sanctions issued. Notably, English snooker player Mark King received a five-year ban and a fine of £68,299.50 (€81,875.39/$86,272.51) for match-fixing following an investigation triggered by Sportradar’s alert on the suspicious match in question.
