EC / IRIS SLOVENIA SEMINAR FIGHT AGAINST MATCH FIXING

Transcription

1 EC / IRIS SLOVENIA SEMINAR FIGHT AGAINST MATCH FIXING Date: 28 October 2013 Place: Ljubljana (Slovenia) Participants: cf. appendix Main issues raised during the seminar: Level of match fixing risk and awareness: The match fixing risk in Slovenia is considered by the participants as medium. Awareness about match fixing issues has been developing quite recently, essentially in football and handball. According to most of the participants, there is now a correct level of information about match fixing in Slovenia, thanks to the Interpol and the FIFPro seminars. Who has to fight against match fixing? In Slovenia, public authorities determine a general framework for sport but respect the autonomy of sports organisations, including sports disciplinary rules. There is a very good cooperation between public bodies and sports organisations in the country. The sports movement seems to be ready to accept public intervention in case of public order risks (for instance intrusion of organised Crime within sports structures). The idea to develop new strong measures to protect sports integrity and to share information in an international cooperative way is seen as important by all participants. Slovenia strongly supports the idea of an international convention to fight against match fixing. The issue of the funding of sports integrity, and more generally of sports organisations, is important in Slovenia. Several participants suggested studying the idea of a specific copyright regarding the French case (the betting right ). Some sports organisations have to face financial problems, especially professional football clubs (it was mentioned that players salaries are sometimes paid with a long delay while the same players have to pay taxes to the State before being paid). Sports betting: Several participants seemed to have a good level of expertise in betting. In Slovenia, Sportna Lotrija has a monopoly on sports betting and the State tries to fight against illegal betting (ISP blocking, measures against illegal advertising). But the level of sanctions remains quite low and many illegal bookmakers 1

2 continue their activity (and first of all Bwin). The illegal market is supposed to reach around 50% of the total betting market. Measures to protect sports integrity: Participants give overwhelming support to education and information measures (to be developed within the country). Football is currently running an education programme for football players, explaining for instance what the risks are for the player, his family and friends. Nevertheless, some representatives consider that it is not so easy because criminals spend much more money to corrupt weak players. It is therefore important to develop additional measures to protect the players and to assure the confidentiality of information related to match fixing. More generally, it could be interesting to develop a better level of good governance, including a kind of guarantee fund (to be able to pay players who didn t be paid). In Slovenia, there is a general criminal legislation/offence on fraud, corruption and bribery. It is hard to reach a conclusion, whether the current legislation in place is enough or additional criminal material would be needed. Measures Betting: Fight against illegal betting Existing (Yes / No) YES (offering bets illegally is a Crime sanction: 30,000 There are additional sanctions for corruption and illegal advertising Betting: Authorised list of bets YES/NO (Sportna Loterija monopoly for sports betting needs a permission from the State regarding new forms of betting and implements self limitations) Betting: Other restrictions (pay out) Sport: Education programs Betting prohibition for sport actors Conflicts of interest: Disclosure of inside information Integrity officer Sport: Prohibition to control betting operators Criminal offence & Sanctions Betting: Prohibition to control sports when bets are offered Contract between sport and betting Intelligence and monitoring Next steps and recommendations: YES/NO (Sportna Loterija implements self limitations, including limits of stakes 200 per betting slip, offline and online or for winnings not over 5,000 ) In progress for football and handball (remains quite new). At the moment, one or two federations implemented some rules in their disciplinary code: football, based on FIFA and UEFA rules : today, 95% of the players are not authorised to bet on any sport, what is written in their contract); handball (to be checked) NO (not at the moment) NO (except for football due to UEFA requirements) NO NO specific offence for sports fraud (general legislation on fraud, corruption and bribery) NO NO (not at the moment) YES (through Sportna Loterija / ELMS) 2

3 Slovenia may possibly look into the 6 following priority items: o Implementation of cooperation at a national level, for example through the National Olympic Committee. o Appointment of an integrity officer in each big sports organisation. o Implementation of education programmes focusing on face to face (players, referees) and train the trainers. o Fight against illegal betting. o Set up some conflicts of interest rules and first of all betting prohibition (at least on their sport or competition) for all the sports stakeholders (players, referees, coaches, etc.). o Develop enhanced cooperation between sports organisations and Sportna Loterija (monopoly on sports betting) about betting expertise and monitoring. 3

4 APPENDIX LIST OF PARTICIPANTS Janez Bukovnik President of the Board, Športna loterija d.d. Primož Pöschl Executive Director, Gaming dpt, Športna loterija d.d. Borut Bohinc Head of Sports Betting dpt, Športna loterija d.d. dr. Tone Jagodic Secretary General, Olympic Committee of Slovenia Andrej Zalar Head of Competitions Licences Sector, Slovenian Football Association Željko Pavlica Head of Security, Slovenian Football Association Goran Semenič Legal Advisor, Slovenian Basketball Association Zoran Verovnik Secretary, Ministry of Education, Science and Sport mag. Darko Repenšek Head of Sports and Sports infrastrucure development dpt, Ministry of Education, Science and Sport Beti Privšek Office for Money Laundering Prevention rs.si Nevenka Trček Office for Money Laundering Prevention rs.si Jure Palka 4

5 Office for Money Laundering Prevention rs.si Sonja Strnad Secretary, General Tax Office Zoran Svetik Deputy Director, SIQ Bojan Briški Ministry of Finance rs.si Jelka Jerina Mandič Ministry of Finance jelka.jerina rs.si Robert Turk Tax Inspector for Games of Chance, Special Tax Office Darja Šavrič Special Tax Office 5