Senior investigators alleged that match-fixing in football has developed into a “significant global threat” that could ruin the game and now involves organized crime infiltrating some European clubs, according to Andy Hunter of the London GUARDIAN. Sporting authorities and governments "were urged to deliver a coordinated response to the problem." It was also claimed corrupt players are being transferred to different countries “specifically to fix matches” and that front companies created by organized crime networks have taken over some European clubs. No clubs "were identified because police are currently investigating the claims." Int'l Centre for Sport Security CEO Emanuel Medeiros said, "Illegal organizations are using front companies to take over clubs in Europe. I have evidence that this is the case but I cannot say which club or which country, although these are legitimate questions." Medeiros "was part of a high-profile delegation" including Interpol-FIFA Initiative Steering Group Chair John Abbott, Hong Kong FA CEO Mark Sutcliffe and Sportradar Dir of Integrity Darren Small (GUARDIAN, 9/10). In London, Ben Rumsby wrote Medeiros said all sport needed “a wake-up call” and could not be complacent about the threat match-fixing and irregular betting could have if not tackled. Medeiros: "It is no longer a silent cancer. It is widespread and very evident that this is a deadly cancer for sport" (TELEGRAPH, 9/10). REUTERS' Mike Collett wrote Abbott said that "far tougher legislation is needed worldwide to fight the crime." Abbott: "It is a global problem and it is showing no signs of abating. Match-fixing itself is not new, a Liverpool-Manchester United game was fixed in the early years of the 20th century, but the really big change is that professional criminals have got involved for fraud purposes." Sutcliffe said that he was horrified to discover a U16 invitational friendly tournament in Hong Kong "was being targeted by match-fixers." Sutcliffe: "If it is infiltrating that level of the game at that age group, it does not bear thinking about" (REUTERS, 9/10).
