13,9% of the footballers in Cyprus who took part in a specific survey, stated that they played in a friendly game that they knew was set up, while the percentage they met in an official game is 21,3%.
This is demonstrated by a study of the Combating Match Fixing Program in Club Football Non-Competitive Matches, the results of which were presented today at the University of Nicosia.
According to a press release, the main conclusion drawn from the investigative phase of the interviews is that, while the matches in the official competitions are regulated by law, at least in European countries, there is no regulation for friendly games.
As a result, it seems that many friendly games are set up, especially at times when teams visit centers in other countries for training purposes. Friendly betting markets are mainly based in Asian countries and bets are often offered by unlicensed bookmakers. The matches are broadcast on Social Media, while the role of live data detectors seems to be suspicious. These conditions are ideal for involvement in the process and its exploitation by organized crime on a global scale, something that is of great concern to Interpol.
In the quantitative research, the footballers state that they played in a friendly game that they knew was set at 13,5%, compared to 21,3% in an official game (13,9% and 20,6% respectively for Cyprus). At the same time 26,5% of footballers stated that they had played in a friendly game that they suspected was set up compared to 42,2% who played in an official game that they suspected was set up. For Cyprus the corresponding percentages are 25,3% for a friendly game and 30,4% for an official game.
The main recommendations of the Research Team are: First, UEFA should regulate all friendly matches in all its 55 members, including details of all matches, players, referees, match agents and involvement external sponsors.
Second, football clubs need to be trained to realize that sharing game information on social media and broadcasting live matches from training centers, or other friendly games, can lead to the supply of games from markets betting.
Third, more players need to be informed that setting up a friendly is still a set up.
The research of the program focused on interviews with national associations, betting agents, data collection companies and regulators and on quantitative research with a target population of footballers - members of the three Footballers' Associations (Cyprus, Greece and Malta).
The main conclusion to be drawn from the research phase of the interviews is that, while the matches in the official competitions are regulated by law, at least in European countries, there is no regulation for friendly games. As a result, it seems that many friendly games are set up, especially at times when teams visit centers in other countries for training purposes.
Friendly betting markets are mainly based in Asian countries and bets are often offered by unlicensed bookmakers. The matches are broadcast on Social Media, while the role of live data detectors seems to be suspicious. These conditions are ideal for involvement in the process and its exploitation by organized crime on a global scale, something that is of great concern to Interpol.
The event was organized by the Pancyprian Footballers' Association in collaboration with the UNRF of the University of Nicosia. The event was a continuation of the presentation of the official results of the Program on December 1 at the conference "Prevention of Match Fixing", organized by the International Football Association FIFPro at its facilities in Amsterdam.
The program is coordinated by UNRF (University of Nicosia Foundation), while partners are the Pancyprian Footballers Association, the Center Internationale d'Etude du Sports (CIES), the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA), the EU Athletes, the Panhellenic Professional Association Footballers and the Malta Footballers' Association. On behalf of UNRF, the main coordinator is the British Sports Writer Steve Menary.
(KYPE / THKE / GBA)