The need to combat match-fixing

Reply to Recommendation | Doc. 13071 | 21 November 2012

Author(s):

Committee of Ministers

Origin

Adopted at the 1154th meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies (14 November 2012). 2012 - November Standing Committee

Reply to Recommendation

: Recommendation 1997 (2012)

Thesaurus

1. The Committee of Ministers has taken due note of Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1997 (2012) on “The need to combat match-fixing”. It has brought it to the attention of member States’ governments and has forwarded it to the relevant Council of Europe bodies for information and possible comments. [(1) Governing Board of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport (EPAS), European Committee on Crime Problems (CDPC), Group of States against Corruption (GRECO), Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of Terrorism (MONEYVAL).]

2. Manipulation of sporting results, in which organised crime and corruption are often involved, is a problem that calls into question the fundamental values such as integrity and honesty of the competition – and ultimately the rule of law – that the Council of Europe is committed to promote and defend. The Committee of Ministers has set out, in its Recommendation CM/Rec(2011)10 on promotion of the integrity of sport to fight against manipulation of results, notably match-fixing, guidelines to advise governments of the member States that have not yet done so, in the adoption of a policy and measures to prevent and combat such manipulation.

3. The Committee of Ministers informs the Assembly that it has “invited the EPAS Governing Board, where appropriate, in co-operation with the GRECO, the CDPC, MONEYVAL and other relevant bodies, and in co-ordination with the European Union, to launch the negotiation of a possible Council of Europe Convention against Manipulation of Sports Results and notably Match-fixing”. EPAS shall report on the process to the Committee of Ministers for consultation as soon as possible. EPAS shall submit to the Committee of Ministers the completed draft instrument that may, eventually, be finalised as a convention or as another instrument.

4. It has also “invited the CDPC, in co-operation with the GRECO and EPAS to consider the feasibility of an Additional Protocol to the Council of Europe Criminal Law Convention on Corruption (ETS No. 173), which could expand the scope of application of its provisions to the private non-profit sector, notably sport”.

5. The Committee of Ministers does not intend to set up a specific ad hoc committee but prefers instead to rely on existing bodies which have expressed a desire to co-operate, to contribute their expertise and to exchange good practices in their respective fields of competence. Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 1997 (2012) will serve as an important contribution to these activities.

6. The Committee of Ministers recognises the importance of a co-ordinated European and international approach to the fight against manipulation of sports results. In this context, it welcomes the support of the European Union for the Council of Europe’s work towards a possible future Convention against Manipulation of Sports Results and notably Match-fixing.