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No suspicious betting or match‑manipulation threats identified during the 64 matches
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Second successive edition of FIFA Women’s World Cup™ to have been monitored
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Task force composed of members from expert organisations
The FIFA Women’s World Cup Integrity Task Force, which was established to safeguard the competition from match‑manipulation and integrity-related threats, has recently concluded its successful work in monitoring the betting markets and in‑game action in real time during all 64 matches at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023™.
At its post-competition meeting held today, the task force concluded that no suspicious betting activities or match‑manipulation threats had been identified around any game that took place during the tournament. This was the second edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ to be monitored by the task force, which was launched ahead of the 2019 finals.
The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Integrity Task Force comprised representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, INTERPOL, the Council of Europe’s Group of Copenhagen, United Lotteries for Integrity in Sports, the International Betting Integrity Association, Sportradar, Sport Integrity Australia and the New Zealand Police.
During the competition, FIFA centralised the collection of information from betting monitoring reports based on market activity data from various jurisdictions, including law enforcement entities and physical surveillance at competition venues.
The monitoring of both the betting markets and in-game action in real time during all of the group- and knockout-stage matches through to the final, which was played on 20 August, found no match‑manipulation threats.
The collaborative effort between FIFA and key international stakeholders in the field of sports integrity ensured an experienced, coordinated and timely response – based on information and data – to any alert during the competition, with each participating stakeholder contributing their specific expertise (investigative and/or technical) throughout the tournament.
In parallel, FIFA continues to work with confederations, member associations and other integrity stakeholders in the fight against match manipulation. In line with its core objective to promote the integrity of football, FIFA takes the battle against match manipulation very seriously and any suspicious activities can be reported via its confidential, dedicated, highly secure and web-based whistle-blowing system.
Further details of FIFA’s integrity initiatives are available here.
The Asian Racing Federation’s Council on Anti-Illegal Betting & Related Financial Crime (ARF Council) announced today that it has expanded its membership to include three new experts to support integrity in racing and other sports:
- Mr. Kim Kelly, former Chief Stipendiary Steward, The Hong Kong Jockey Club;
- Mr. Michael Phelan, former CEO, Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC); and
- Mr. Luca Esposito, General Secretary, United Lotteries for Integrity in Sport (formerly Global Lottery Monitoring System) / Executive Director, World Lottery Association.
All three have significant experience in upholding integrity of racing and other sports or combatting financial crime.
Martin Purbrick, Chairperson of the ARF Council said that “Mr. Kim Kelly is one of the most respected Stipendiary Stewards in the world of horse racing. Kim’s membership will be of great benefit to the Council’s work as it seeks to highlight how the racing model of integrity works effectively to counter the negative influence from illegal betting markets, as well as provide guidance on how horse racing’s stewarding model in racing works alongside betting analysis to detect issues in the sport and react appropriately. Mr. Michael Phelan is one of the most senior former law enforcement officers in Australia, having had a career of more than 30 years with the ACIC as well as the Australian Federal Police (AFP). Michael is a lifelong horse racing fan and will strengthen our efforts to show how horse racing has the most effective approach to integrity of all sports. Mr. Luca Esposito is a valuable addition to the Council due to his knowledge and experience of technology in betting and he brings further alignment between the ARFCouncil and the legal betting industry regarding the problem of illegal betting.”
With the addition of these new members, the ARF Council now comprises 24 experts in sports and racing integrity, law enforcement, academia, and intergovernmental relations.
About the ARF and the ARF Council
The ARF is a regional federation comprising 28 national racing authorities and racing-related organisations from across Asia, Oceania, Africa and the Middle East.
The ARF is formally linked with the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA). Australia, Hong Kong and Japan have permanent seats representing the ARF on the Executive Council of the IFHA, and the ARF also nominates one of two rotational positions on the IFHA Executive Council.
Horse racing is a participation sport with riders who are exceptional participant athletes. Racing as a sport brings positive social outcomes, which are education (of participants), employment, economic productivity, and public participation (of large audiences across societies where racing takes place).
The above contributions made by ARF members result in a wide range of positive societal benefits. These are the result of a sport operating within clear legal boundaries and supporting legal licensed betting products that are part of the entertainment around racing. This legal basis is a key part of our belief in the importance of a positive economic and social contribution by the sport of horse racing.
The Asian Racing Federation Council on Anti-illegal Betting and Related Financial Crime (ARF Council) was established in 2017 as a think tank aimed at combatting illegal betting and related financial crime. The ARF Council now comprises 24 members from organisations engaged in horse racing and sports integrity, law enforcement, the United Nations, and academia.
The ARF Council’s purpose is to research and share the scale and negative impacts of illegal betting, particularly as it relates to horse racing and sports integrity, and to foster international collaboration among stakeholders, such as horse racing operators and authorities, gambling regulators, law enforcement agencies, and government policy makers to raise awareness of the threat and to combat the negative impact of illegal betting and other financial crimes to horse racing, other sports, and to society.
State gaming authority grants Genius Sports initial approval to support sportsbook partners statewide.
Genius Sports Limited (NYSE: GENI) (“Genius Sports”), the official data, technology and commercial partner that powers the ecosystem connecting sports, betting and media, announced today that it has been certified by the State of Louisiana Gaming Control Board as Sports Wagering Service Provider for an initial six months. Genius Sports is currently awaiting its full license authorization.
artnership to help create untapped opportunities for the ICC to engage with its diverse and large fan base across the globe.
Partnership to help create untapped opportunities for the ICC to engage with its diverse and large fan base across the globe
The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced a global partnership with Sportradar (NASDAQ: SRAD) (“Sportradar” or “the Company”), making them the Official Data Distribution and Official Betting Live Streaming Partner of the ICC. Sportradar is a leading global provider of sports betting and sports entertainment products and services, and the number one provider of business-to-business solutions to the global sports betting industry based on revenue.
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SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — The NHL found no evidence that San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane bet on NHL games or tried to throw games after investigating allegations made by his estranged wife.
Lausanne (RWH) The coming webinar of the International Testing Agency ITA will address the wider topic of integrity in sport with a focus on competition manipulation.
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