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Net closed on betting cheats
19/04/2006 15:48 - (SA)
London - Britain's major sports signed a
code of conduct on Wednesday to close the net on betting cheats.
European soccer has been damaged in the last two years by
match-fixing scandals in Germany and Belgium and a police
investigation is underway in Britain into allegations of
race-fixing in horse racing.
"Sports betting has changed dramatically in recent years,"
Sports Minister Richard Caborn said in a statement. "Advances in
technology and increasing popularity mean there are now more
ways to place a bet than ever before.
"But we can't let a few unscrupulous cheats drag the good
name of sport through the mud.
"That's why I'm pleased that from football to snooker, sport
now recognises the importance of working with betting operators
and the authorities to crack down on betting cheats."
The 10 governing bodies who signed up to the code covered
such sports as darts, cricket, soccer, horse racing, motor
sports, greyhound racing, snooker, and rugby union and league.
Under the code, the bodies must include provisions in their
rules and regulations governing the behaviour of their members
in relation to betting. Their members will be expected to avoid
any conflict of interest.
Corrupt practices
The bodies will be expected to work closely with the police,
National Criminal Intelligence Service and the Gambling
Commission if corrupt practices are discovered.
Betting on sport has always been popular in Britain, with
figures from the National Audit Office in 2005 estimating annual
turnover at 53bn pounds ($95bn).
However, the nature of betting has changed in the past
decade with a move to the internet and phone accounts allowing
people to place a bet at any time from any place, not just with
bookmakers but also directly with fellow punters.
In Germany, referee Robert Hoyzer was found guilty late last
year of fixing matches in a two million euro ($2.5m)
betting fraud. The case caused embarrassment to Germany, hosts
of the 2006 World Cup which begins on June 9.
Fifa, world soccer's governing body, responded to the
scandals by setting up Fifa Early Warning System GmbH which aims
to spot what could be attempts to manipulate games.
Online bookmakers Betfair have also signed an agreement with
Uefa to provide immediate information to the European governing
body whenever unusual betting patterns are detected.
"There are matches every day, 365 days a year, 24 hours a
day. Corruption is therefore inevitable," Fifa General Secretary
Urs Linsi has said.
- Reuters
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