A footballer in Cyprus will be approached to have a reduced performance by an unknown (34%) or agent (23%) of his team, according to the majority of footballers who took part in the survey presented last night by PASP in collaboration with KOP at the GSP conference center.
According to the websites of KOP and PASP, the research summarizes the answers given by 419 football players, who play in Cyprus in all KOP championships.
Another point that emerges from the research analyzed and presented by the special associate of the Association, Loizos Chrysostomou, is that those who are paid on time by their teams, it is very difficult to be paid to alter the result of a match while a large percentage of players do not know consequences for their possible participation in a match. The survey was based on questions posed to footballers by FIFPro and nine other countries.
84.9 billion from gambling in the EU
KOA Vice President Kleanthis Georgiadis spoke about an important research, emphasizing that the phenomenon has to do with gambling, ie gambling, and added that the income from gambling in European Union countries amounts to 84,9 billion euros. He also stated that the CMO is actively participating with its representative in a group of European Union experts.
The President of PASP Spyros Neophytidis analyzed the international dimensions of the phenomenon, through visual material that was shown and prepared in collaboration with FIFA, FIFPro and Interpol and is shown in all countries. He then analyzed the Red Button system, which allows players to provide anonymous or anonymous information about match-fixing attempts.
TIF Higgins, Vice-President of FIFPro Europe and Head of FIFPro's "Don't fix it" program, expressed his satisfaction with the way PASP is dealing with the phenomenon and then analyzed through visual material the ways in which it can be reduced. this negative phenomenon. After congratulating Neophytidis for his efforts, Mr. Higgins said that only with a common strategy can the phenomenon be tackled. "Only in this way can you persuade politicians to change the law," he added.
The KOP is determined
In the presentation of the research, on behalf of KOP, the Second Vice President Nikos Nikolaou addressed a greeting, who stressed the determination of the Federation to cooperate with the state authorities, PASP and the clubs in accordance with the recommendations of UEFA for the exemption of Cypriot football from any set up games. "The long-standing position of the Federation is clear that there must be a barrier to the scourge of match-fixing, which is not a Cypriot phenomenon but is a problem that concerns football in all countries of the world.
"Gambling is not something new in football, but in the modern age of internet technology and betting, legal or illegal, we have a new method of match-fixing that some experts use for financial gain to the detriment of football and teams." he added. He also said that a few years ago UEFA set up a mechanism to monitor and control the matches with suspicious betting and sends to the Federations files with details of suspicious matches.
"Both in other European countries and in Cyprus, proving the information contained in the files is very difficult due to the way online betting is played. In Cyprus, due to legislation, it is even more difficult to prove these facts. We believe that a change in the Legislation so that telephone conversations can be used as evidence will help to clarify cases. "Recent examples of countries where such evidence has been used and cases have been investigated are Greece, Italy and England," he added.
The KOP, continued Mr. Nikolaou, does not wash its hands leaving the issue only to the result of the police investigations. "Demonstrating determination to combat this phenomenon, it has in the past taken deterrent measures, even postponing matches for which there was information of intense and suspicious betting. This year, wanting to emphasize the determination of the Federation to deal with this problem as much as possible, it enacted a regulation so that when they come beyond the two files with suspicious betting for a team then it will not receive any sponsorship from the Federation in any form. It is with pleasure that I tell you that since this decision was made until today we have not received a dossier from UEFA and I hope that we will end the year without another dossier coming.
"As a federation, we want a championship free of rigged games but also free of suspicion of rigged games," he added. He also said that the Federation has the determination and the will to make those changes and actions that will help the better operation of football that will also restore the confidence of the fans. "Some decisions for changes have already been implemented and other actions are underway.
I am sure that we will have the cooperation of both the unions and the PASP. On this occasion, I call on the players to complain, if they notice attempts to manipulate matches. Besides, in order to set up a match, the assistance of some football players is needed. If something like this happens, it is first to the detriment of the rest of their teammates, so it is our request, if such an effort comes to the notice of a player, that he does not hesitate to make a complaint. After all, it is an offense under the regulations and the penalties are very strict. "I assure you that the Federation, for its part, will resolutely continue the effort to prevent match-fixing in cooperation with the PASP, the unions and the competent authorities of the State", he concluded.
Source: KYPE