For information only - not an official document
UNIS/CP/929
23 August 2016
VIENNA, 23 August (UN Information Service) - Following on from the partnership signed last year at the 13th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, UNODC and the International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) have today unveiled a new resource guide that will help law enforcement and sports organizations better detect and investigate match-fixing and cases of sports-results manipulation.
Over 40 international integrity experts contributed their knowledge to the development of the resource guide. These include officials from FIFA, the International Olympic Committee, INTERPOL, the European Commission, Hong Kong Jockey Club, World Snooker, Council of Europe, Ministries of Justice from France and the Republic of Korea, and EUROPOL.
Speaking at the launch of the resource guide, John Brandolino, UNODC Director for Treaty Affairs, said: "The problem of match-fixing is such that it undermines integrity in sport with the significant illicit profits it generates allowing organized crime and corruption to thrive. In addition, the investigative skills of both law enforcement agencies and sports organizations around the world which are needed to identify and apprehend those responsible, are relatively underdeveloped."
For his part, Mohammed Hanzab, President of ICSS, while highlighting the expert contributions in the development of the guide, mentioned: "This handbook provides a comprehensive range of case studies, investigation techniques and approaches to combat match-fixing as well as providing valuable guidance on how to disrupt the international organized crime syndicates that now operate in sport."
Themes covered in the guide include: co-operation between law enforcement and sport investigators; sources of information, allegations, intelligence and evidence; evidence and interviewing; why match-fixing is an International Issue; application of existing legal instruments, such as the UN Conventions against Corruption and Transnational Organized Crime; relationship between investigators and prosecutors in a criminal or sporting case; and alternative and complimentary approaches to combat match-fixing.
UNODC and the ICSS will look to develop the resource guide into a series of workshops designed to build capacities of investigators, prosecutors and relevant officials in sports organizations on how to investigate allegations of match-fixing.
Download the full Resource Guide
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For further information, please contact:
UNODC
Ronan
O'Laoire
Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Officer
Corruption and Economic Crime Branch
Email: ronan.olaoire[at]unodc.org
ICCS
Will
Shand
Telephone: +974 333 416 55
Email: will.shand[at]theicss.org
Annex 1: Additional quotes from speakers
John Brandolino, Director , UNODC Division for Treaty Affairs:
"The Resource Guide represents UNODC's and ICSS's efforts to address this shortage in skill among investigators in both law enforcement and sports organizations and to raise awareness among policy makers about the threat of match-fixing. It serves as an important tool for those seeking to understand the problem and to learn how to effectively investigate it."
"The United Nations Convention against Corruption and the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime have served as the basis to develop the joint UNODC-ICSS publication entitled 'Resource Guide of Good Practices in the Investigation of Match-Fixing.'"
Mohammed Hanzab, President, International Centre for Sport Security:
"As the ICSS looks to build on this launch and work alongside the UNODC to develop a series of workshops and training courses in this area, this handbook will hopefully provide sport federations and law enforcement agencies with an important go-to-guide to detecting, investigating and prosecuting match-fixers and organized crime.
"On behalf of the ICSS, I would like to thank the UNODC, as well as all those who have contributed, in developing this guide, which will hopefully become a leading resource for organizations to strengthen their integrity practices and combatting match-fixing."
