For information only - not an official document

UNIS/CP/734
28 November 2013

UNODC Statement in reaction to alleged match fixing in the United Kingdom

PANAMA CITY/VIENNA, 28 November (UN Information Service) - "News reports of alleged match fixing in the United Kingdom reveal the widespread nature of this challenge, which crosses national and regional borders. If sporting integrity is to be maintained, and our belief in sport to be affirmed, sporting bodies, the international community, and civil society should come together to confront this crime. What is needed is greater cross-border cooperation and sharing of information, as well as a firm commitment to bring national laws in line with the UN Convention against Corruption which promotes global integrity and transparency. If not, there is a risk that we will no longer believe what we are seeing on the sporting field."

Dimitri Vlassis, Chief, Corruption and Economic Crime Branch, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)

These match-fixing allegations come as the world's largest anti-corruption event, the Fifth Session of the Conference of the States Parties is being held in Panama City this week. With more than 1,500 participants from Member States, civil society, private sector academia and the media discussing best practices and successes in the fight against corruption under the umbrella of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC).

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For further information please contact:

David Dadge, Spokesperson, UNODC
Mobile: (+507) 6800 3353 Email: david.dadge[at]unvienna.org
or
Anne Thomas, Information Officer, UNIS Vienna
Mobile: (+507) 6800 2981 Email: anne.thomas[at]unvienna.org

For further information visit:
http://www.unis.unvienna.org/unis/en/events/2013/cosp5_panama_2013.html

Conference website of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC):
http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/treaties/CAC/CAC-COSP-session5.html

Conference website of the Host Country: http://cospvpanama.com/eng/index-e.html

Follow @UNODC on Twitter and join the conversation using #NoToCorruption and #CoSP5.