ICSS and UNODC to host special high-level meeting at 13th UN Crime Congress on global data-sharing for effective match-fixing investigation and prosecution

By Will Shand from Doha, Qatar; April 2, 2015: The International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) has announced today that it will host a special high-level meeting with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) at the 13th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice to enhance global data-sharing for effective investigations and prosecutions on match-fixing.

As one of the only sessions dedicated to discussing integrity issues in sport at the 13th Crime Congress, the ICSS-UNODC meeting will see some of the world’s top organisations and international experts from sport, finance, betting, law enforcement and government discuss some of the main barriers to global-data sharing, as well as identifying ways to enhance information sharing to support transnational investigations and prosecution of match-fixing cases.

Taking place on Wednesday 15th April at the Qatar National Convention Centre under the theme of ‘Taking it from the Locker Room into the Hands of Law Enforcement’, this special high-level meeting will explore three core areas, including:

• International Cooperation to Combat Match-Fixing: A New Approach for Data Sharing
• Data Sharing Mechanisms
• Data to Prosecution

Involving top international experts from betting, law enforcement and sport, speakers already confirmed for the event include:

• Yury Fedotov, UNODC Executive Director
• Mohammed Hanzab, ICSS President
• Nick Tofiluk, Director of Regulatory Operations, Gambling Commission
• Chris Eaton, ICSS, Executive Director of Sport Integrity
• Patrick Moulette, OECD, Head of the Anti-Corruption Division
• Michael Hershman, Co-founder of Transparency International and ICSS Advisory Board Member
• Robert Crepinko, Europol, Head of Organised Crime Networks (Operations Department)
• Gretchen Jonker, World Economic Forum, Head of Anti-Corruption and Illicit Financial Flows
• Patrick Jay, Independent Betting Expert, former Director of Trading at the Hong Kong Jockey Club
• Lord Moynihan, House of Lords and author of the Governance of Sport Bill
• Simone Farina, Aston Villa FC, Academy Coach, and former professional footballer

Dimitri Vlassis, Officer-in-Charge of the Division for Treaty Affairs (DTA) and Executive Secretary of the 13th Crime Congress said:

“Sport now plays an integral role in society and the development of many countries and communities. However, the threat of match-fixing, corruption and organised crime to sport and society is now undeniable.

“This special high-level meeting hosted by the ICSS and UNODC will provide top government officials, policy-makers and criminal justice experts with an ideal opportunity to discuss and identify stronger platforms to share data and help fast-track investigations and prosecutions involving match-fixing and illegal betting.

“Only through collective action and a global, united response can we win the fight against organised crime and corruption in sports. This meeting is an important stepping stone into developing a coordinated international approach for a safer future for sport.”

Mohammed Hanzab, President of the ICSS, said:

“As one of the only sessions at the UN Crime Congress dedicated to discussing integrity issues in sport, this meeting will be an important milestone in the fight against match-fixing and illegal betting and will hopefully lay the foundations for closer collaboration, cooperation and information sharing between sport, law enforcement, betting and government.

“On behalf of the ICSS, I would like to thank the UNODC for their commitment to protecting the integrity of sport and look forward to welcoming top experts from around the world for what will be a crucial opportunity to address match-fixing and illegal betting – two of the biggest threats now facing sport.”

Chris Eaton, Executive Director of Sport Integrity at the ICSS, said:

“Match-fixing, illegal betting and betting fraud are transnational problems and all too often investigations and prosecutions into cases are hindered by a lack of proper, timely data.

“Law enforcement and governments must take greater responsibility for these issues and understand the impact that criminals are now having on society through sport. This meeting is an important first step in the fight to protect sport and will hopefully lead to more effective investigations and prosecutions against match-fixers and organised criminals that now operate in sport.”