Cooperation
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Article body
UEFA and Europol
On 27 May 2014, UEFA and Europol signed an important Memorandum of Understanding to fight against match-fixing at European level.
Europol is the European Union's law enforcement agency whose main goal is to help achieve a safer Europe for the benefit of all EU citizens.
The scope of the memorandum includes the mutual provision of expertise and constant consultation in the areas of match-fixing in football and related organised crime, as well as the exchange of information and know-how related to those areas.
Europol and UEFA pledge to cooperate in joint activities and in implementing relevant projects, and to exchange information on suspected match-fixing cases and the methods used by individuals or criminal organisations to manipulate matches. Europol provides expert assistance and advice to UEFA and its 55 member associations on key aspects of contemporary criminal organisation in the area of match-fixing.
Mutual support will be given in education programmes, and Europol and UEFA will also liaise on matters concerning individual relations with law enforcement bodies, as well as with UEFA member associations.
The memorandum of understanding between UEFA and Europol is a crucial step forward in the campaign to combat match-fixing in European football. UEFA has made this campaign a major priority, given that match-fixing represents a serious threat to the essential integrity of football and its competitions.
Europol, which is based in The Hague, Netherlands, works together with EU member states, other partner states and other organisations in the fight against serious international crime, undertaking intelligence and investigatory work and collecting and disseminating information to national law enforcement agencies.
Since 2011, Europol has assisted EU law enforcement authorities in analysing data from investigations into sports corruption, primarily football matches. Earlier this year Europol formally opened a 'Focal Point Sports Corruption' which so far has 14 EU member states participating plus two non-EU countries and Interpol.
UEFA and football's stakeholders
UEFA maintains excellent relationships with football's stakeholders to tackle the problem of match-fixing at European level.
In this regard, since the resolution passed by the UEFA Professional Football Strategy Council (PFSC) in 2010, the position of the UEFA PFSC has been very active in this field.
In 2014, the PSFC launched a very important initiative called Code of Conduct for European Football. This code of conduct was agreed and approved by the four organisations representing the interests of European professional football stakeholders in the UEFA PSFC: ECA, FIFPRO, EPFL and UEFA.
This code of conduct sets out the guiding principles for all players, referees, clubs and other officials on the issues surrounding the integrity of football. It aims to promote the highest standards of conduct in the organisation, playing and officiating of football and serves as a reference for code of conducts at national level.