VIC:Vic police cracking down on match fixing

AAP General News (Australia)
12-14-2011
VIC:Vic police cracking down on match fixing

MELBOURNE, Dec 14 AAP - Victoria Police is looking at ways to crack down on a growing
risk of match fixing and other forms of sports corruption.

Police on Wednesday will meet with officials from across 12 sports to discuss ways
of stopping organised crime corrupting players or officials to rig matches.

Officials from the AFL, rugby league, rugby union, soccer, netball, tennis and racing
codes will meet with police at the inaugural Maintaining Integrity in Sport Forum in Melbourne.

Police say the main threat to sport integrity is the rise in legal and illegal gambling
on sporting matches.

They say elite level players becoming friends with or associating with organised crime
figures should be a red flag for officials.

"We've recently seen Pakistan cricketers Salman Butt and Mohammed Aamer sentenced to
jail for spot fixing and there have been documented cases of organised crime syndicates
buying into European soccer clubs," Assistant Commissioner Graham Ashton said in a statement.

"We can learn from these experiences and by working together, prevent corruption in sport."

Mr Ahston said police had a relationship with some sporting bodies but now wanted to
engage with the wider sporting community, rather than just a select few.

Sporting officials and police at the forum will discuss ways police can prevent corruption
in sport.

Police said the federal government is looking at introducing legislation in relation
to cheating in sport.

"In the past, it has been very difficult to fit some corrupt behaviour in sport into
criminal law offences," Mr Ashton said.

An Australian Crime Commission report released in November said Australian sport was
increasingly at risk of corruption from international elements, as technological developments
eroded national boundaries and exposed athletes and officials to greater threats from
organised crime groups.

AAP kn/gfr/was

KEYWORD: CORRUPTION

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