First Global Report on Corruption in Sport
It was published by the United Nations Against Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and shows exorbitant figures that move in clandestine bets and in arranged competitions. This trend has increased in the last two decades. The statement calls for joint action to maintain the transparency of sport .
The sports world is subject to corrupt arrangements. ©QuinceCreative/Pixabay
The admonitions of the report
While cheating in the sports world is not a novelty, the arrangements seem to have become radicalized in recent times. This is shown by the first Global Report on Corruption in Sport , developed by UNODC. According to the study, each year they circulate approximately $1.7 billion in illegal gambling , a sum that affects the outcome of certain sporting events.
The report also details the level of organization through which the clandestine groups operate. The link between illegal betting and fixed events it is very much in sight. This is an activity that tarnishes the world of sports, while taking away the credibility of betting.
To develop the study, UNODC employed more than 200 professionals from various areas - government officials, sports organizations, the gaming industry, academia and other relevant actors. The result has been, in fact, the most exhaustive and structured compendium on this topic at a global level that has been carried out so far.
One of the interesting axes of the report is the analysis of the impact of clandestine betting on the manipulation of sports competitions . It also delves into issues such as abuses in the world of sports based on gender, race and social class. The most important events in the world, far from remaining pristine, show themselves to be very susceptible to large-scale organized corruption.
Initiatives to change the course of history
In addition to presenting the problems, the Global Corruption Report proposes drivers for change. There are already numerous protocols to maintain the transparency of different competitions , but they seem to be insufficient or not seriously applied. According to the indications of the study, a joint action of rapid application is necessary to divert the sport from the current course.
One of the proposed actions are strengthening institutional frameworks to prevent fraud . This implies the planning of regulations to act quickly in the face of any irregularity at all levels of sports competitions. Anti-corruption guidelines should take into account the organization of events, as well as all activities related directly or indirectly to them.
This planning implies access to information from different entities, both sports and government, so it would be a joint project . In particular, the study proposes a greater involvement of the relevant departments of governments in the supervision of sports activities.
Thus, one of the possible resources is the creation of specialized public offices, which would be responsible for ensuring transparency in sport and related activities . Sports betting is one such activity; the elimination of illegal gambling is one of the main concerns of UNODC.
The most emblematic corruption cases
In recent years there have been examples of corruption that have had a lot of weight. The famous FIFA Gate is a case that does not go unnoticed by anyone. In 2015, nine people with involvement in FIFA and five businessmen from the world of sports were arrested. The charges involved frauds of more than US150 million, by the arrangement of the venues of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups , among other issues (many of which, to this day, have not been clarified).
The case of the former president of FIFA, Sepp Blatter, and the former president of UEFA, the Frenchman Michel Platini, was also widely publicized. Accused of corruption, they were removed from the world of football for a term of 8 years. It was the own FIFA Ethics Committee the one who discovered the irregularities and suspicious payments between the two officials.
In the world of football, media cases abound. Among them, the memory of the Juventus relegation , after the club's illegal arrangements came to light. The 2014 World Cup remains a matter of dispute, while the actions of the Brazilian government and the impact of the FIFA authorities on the handling of money are questioned.
The examples, however, transcend football and cover absolutely all disciplines. The arrangements in boxing fights are notorious; the fraud in the tennis world they have had great media relevance. That is why the UNODC raises the importance of developing protocols that cover all areas of sport and its related items .
