Recently, the House of Lords discussed the increasing threat of international match-fixing fueled by greater betting opportunities and organized crime activity. During an evidence session on Thursday, members considered whether to ratify the Macolin Convention into UK law.
The Macolin Convention is a significant international legal instrument focused on preventing the manipulation of sports competitions. It has already garnered signatures from 43 European nations, along with Australia, Morocco, and Brazil.
Moses Swaibu, CEO of GameChanger360, emphasized during his testimony that corruption in sports is escalating. A former match-fixer himself, Swaibu has turned his experience into a resource for promoting integrity in sports. He released a memoir, "Fixed: My Secret Life as a Match Fixer," discussing his past involvement in fixing matches while playing soccer in England, which led to his 2013 arrest and 16-month prison sentence. After serving his time, he has collaborated with the English Football Association, Premier League, and FIFA to address the growing issue of match-fixing.
Swaibu attributed the surge in corruption to the rise of prediction markets and the ease of online betting. He pointed out, "From the perspective of criminals, you now have one of the biggest open markets across Asia, pinpointing poly-markets where you can literally bet on anything."
Despite a report earlier this year from Sportradar indicating a decline in match-fixing suspicions, the committee members noted rising concerns. One member highlighted an alarming 92% increase in reported suspicious matches in Africa. Swaibu elaborated, "When you have territories such as Africa, those vulnerabilities can now be exploited to penetrate markets at the click of a button. The new match-fixers are operating in plain sight within society, and law enforcement has struggled to keep pace with these developments."
His sentiments were echoed by Madolina Diaconu, an Associate Professor at the University of Neuchâtel and a legal expert in Sports and Gambling Law. She confirmed, "Through various studies, we have been able to measure and confirm that over the last 20 to 25 years, there has been a distinct increase in match-fixing, or 'competition manipulation' as the convention calls it."
Diaconu remarked on the significant infiltration of organized crime into sports over the last 15 to 16 years, stating, "This goes beyond the small fixes typically associated with sports. Now, we see the involvement of international organized crime syndicates, which presents a much greater threat."
Swaibu recounted being approached by three different criminal syndicates during his career, many of which are still active. He cited instances in China where nine of the 16 Super League teams began their season with point deductions due to bribery accusations.
Diaconu explained that match-fixing provides a lucrative opportunity for these syndicates, as they can earn substantial profits and launder money derived from other serious crimes such as drug and human trafficking.
Both Swaibu and Diaconu underscored the importance of the Macolin Convention, advocating for participation to facilitate real-time data exchange among nations in combating sports corruption. Diaconu emphasized, "This issue can only be effectively tackled through international cooperation. Criminals do not stay in one country; they travel and profit from our open world. Therefore, the law enforcement response must also be international."
Swaibu further urged the UK to set a precedent by ratifying the treaty, asserting that engaging with it presents a proactive approach to prevent future corruption. He noted, "The UK is the home of football and sport; flying this flag at the highest level will help the rest of the world move forward."
He indicated that match-fixing operations specifically target younger players, indicating a critical need for updated legal frameworks to protect them. Swaibu advocated for education on integrity, suggesting that awareness should encompass body language and warning signs rather than just verbal teachings.
Diaconu stressed that the Macolin Convention’s practical approach is key to dismantling international match-fixing syndicates and proposed the convention expand to include more non-European nations.
In addition to government actions, Diaconu pointed out that gambling companies also play a crucial role in combating match-fixing through data sharing across global markets. She noted, "We now have hundreds of sports betting agencies, regulators, and operators who have signed agreements to share data, suspicions, and alerts in real-time internationally."
She referenced a recent incident involving Brazilian player Lucas Paquetá, who faced accusations of deliberate foul play. Investigations revealed that family members in Brazil were betting on his bookings in Premier League matches, although he was later acquitted.
The House of Lords committee will consider these discussions further as they deliberate on the ratification of the Macolin Convention.
