Sweden is to join the Council of Europe’s Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions, also known as the Macolin Convention, the country’s government has confirmed.
Sweden first announced its intention to join the convention in October last year, with several ministers declaring their support. The government has now confirmed it will proceed with these plans.
In declaring its support, Sweden becomes the thirteenth European Union country to ratify the Macolin Convention. Belgium, France, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Lithuania, Norway, Portugal, Moldova, Spain, Switzerland and Ukraine have all previously ratified the convention. It has also been signed by 39 other European states and signed by three non-EU countries; Australia, Morocco and Russia.
The convention remains the only international legal framework on match-fixing and sports manipulation. It sets out a framework for public authorities to corporate with sports governing bodies, betting operators and competition operators to prevent, detect and sanction match-fixing.
Swedish lawmakers hail “important step” in match-fixing fight
Social affairs minister Jakob Forssmed, who was among those backing Sweden joining last year, said the country’s participation will help counter match-fixing and strengthen sporting integrity.
“Match-fixing is a serious and increasing threat in sports and is happening more often across national borders,” Forssmed said. “By now joining the Macolin Convention, Sweden gets full access to deepened international cooperation and information exchange.
“This is a long-awaited and important step to counter match-fixing and strengthen integrity in sports.”
Niklas Wykman, financial market minister and another long-term supporter of joining the convention, added: “There must be order in the Swedish gambling market. The decision means that we can continue to suppress crime and create security for those who play.”
The history of the Macolin Convention
While the Macolin Convention was negotiated and written in 2014, it took until September 2019 for the agreement to enter into force. It took five years for six countries – Italy, Norway, Portugal, Moldova, Switzerland and Ukraine – to ratify the treaty.
This slow progress came amid significant resistance from Malta, which is yet to sign the convention. Malta is wary of the Macolin Convention’s definition of illegal sports betting, which lawmakers claim could effectively outlaw its offshore gambling licensees in Europe.
It defines “illegal sports betting” as “any sports betting activity whose type or operator is not allowed under the applicable law of the jurisdiction where the consumer is located”. This goes against Malta’s argument that its online operators can do business across Europe under Article 37 of the Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union.
This guarantees the free movement of goods and services between EU member states.
However local media reports suggest Malta’s hardline stance may be softening. In 2023, it engaged a law firm to assess the ramifications of signing the convention and, in March this year, the government published Legal Notice 39 and 40, setting out plans for a national platform to combat match-fixing – a key step towards becoming a signatory.
