Geneva – Switzerland, Nov 5, 2013: The International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) is to work with Lega Italiana Calcio Professionistico (Lega Pro) across sport integrity issues, with a specific focus on match-fixing.
As part of the agreement, the ICSS and Lega Pro will share knowledge and information across all areas of sport integrity, as well as collaborating to enhance best practices in this area. The ICSS will advise Lega Pro on how to strengthen their sport integrity resources and capabilities. Lega Pro will draw upon ICSS expertise in international integrity and investigations.
Mohammed Hanzab, President of the ICSS, said: “The ICSS and our team of world-leading experts is committed to being a driving force in sport integrity. As well as this important new partnership with Lega Pro, the ICSS works with national governing bodies and law enforcement agencies to advise and inform on all issues of fraud, corruption and match-fixing in sport. The ICSS, alongside our partners and supporters, is leading the fight to uphold sporting integrity and this agreement is another important step towards developing a unified effort to tackle the issues of match fixing and corruption in sport.”
The agreement follows on from the ICSS’s recent appointment at the Leaders in Football conference by Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional (LFP) – the representative body of the professional football clubs of Spain’s First and Second Divisions.
Francesco Ghirelli, Director of Lega Pro and Chief of Integrity Office, said: “Lega Pro holds the fight against betting fraud and the fight against doping and any other illegal practice in sports as its top priorities. The continuous work done during meetings with all the clubs’ members, including players, coaches, managers, referees, inspectors of the League and members of the clubs’ youth sections, is starting to change the perception of the criminal phenomena and, as a consequence, the reaction to such phenomena.”
The partnership with Lega Pro was signed on the eve of a special United Nations hosted forum “Sport Integrity – a right for youth” attended by leaders from the world of sport, government, international development and child protection. Organised by the Permanent Missions of Italy and Qatar, in partnership with the Group of Friends on Sport for Development and Peace, the ICSS and Lega Pro, the forum will explore corruption in sport and its growing and dangerous impact on young people.
About Lega Pro
Lega Italiana Calcio Professionistico (Italian Soccer Professional League) was constituted on August 1959. The task of organising the Lega was given to Artemio Franchi, who served as President of the League from 1959 until the 1963/64 season.
There are currently 69 clubs associated with the league (33 in the 1st Division and 36 in the 2nd Division). The clubs participate in the following Lega Pro competitions: 1st and 2nd Division Championship, “Coppa Italia Lega Pro”, “Supercoppa di Lega” for both 1st and 2nd Division, Play-offs and Play-outs in each division. The league also organises the “Campionato Nazionale Berretti”, for U-20 teams. The President is Mario Macalli, the Vice Presidents Archimede Pitrolo and Antonio Rizzo and the CEO is Francesco Ghirelli. —- By Will Shand
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