Together with seven special sports federations, Riksidrottsförbundet (RF) has developed anti-match fixing programmes. The programmes entail a clear structure for preventive work, regulations for investigative work and measures such as penalties for match-fixing and illegal betting.

“Thanks to anti-match fixing programs, the sporting federations are improving in both proactive and reactive work”, says Björn Eriksson, RF Chairman. “More people are being trained and suspicions are handled better and more efficiently. These are important measures that, in the long run, will be decisive in making sport’s own punishment system more effective. The judiciary is also grateful that we are now contributing further measures in the fight against match-fixing.”

The special sports associations that have established anti-match fixing programmes are the Basketball Association, the Ski Association, the Motorsport Association, the Tennis Association, the Volleyball Association, the Table Tennis Association, and the Ice Hockey Association. The programmes clarify the commitment of the special sports federations to preventive as well as investigative work. 

The development of the programmes has become even more topical with the investigation that was recently presented on measures for strengthened work against match-fixing. The inquiry proposes, among other things, greater opportunities for sports players to obtain more information about suspicions of match-fixing and betting from, among others, the gaming companies.

“The inquiry’s proposal means greater opportunities for sports to work on this issue, but also means higher demands on us to be able to deal with it”,  says Jakob Uddeholt, RF Coordinator against match-fixing. “With the establishment of the programmes and the work based on these, the special sports federations are preparing to meet those requirements.” 

“Thanks to the program, we are further strengthening our work against match-fixing and illegal betting”, says Olle Lundén, contact for match-fixing reports, the Swedish Basketball Association. “It means security for us in everything, from preventive and investigative work to how we link this to questions about the gaming industry and good governance”.

After the New Year, work will begin on an anti-match fixing program together with a dozen other special sports federations. The Riksidrottsförbundet work against match-fixing is part of the partnership with Svenska Spel [Sweden’s State gambling operator].

• This media release is a translated version of the original, published by Riksidrottsförbundet (the Swedish Sports Confederation) on 28 October 2021. Click here for the original.