MFA launches 'Say No to Match-Fixing' tour

mfa-integrity-tour-launch2013The Malta Football Association, in collaboration with Sportradar and Betaland, has launched an educational programme as part of its fight against match-fixing. Details were given during a press conference which was held at the Centenary Hall, Ta’ Qali on Thursday.

The ‘Say No to Match-Fixing’ tour will be conducted by Sportradar and will educate players, referees and club officials about all relevant issues surrounding modern day match-fixing. Education, including an innovative e-learning tutorial, is the key focus of the program and will encompass aspects such as monitoring and detection systems used to identify manipulated matches and the consequences of engaging in corrupt activity.

Officials from the MFA and Sportradar will start the so-called MFA Integrity Tour with the theme ‘Say No to Match-Fixing’ where they will be visiting Premier League and First Division clubs to speak to their senior team, Under-19, Under-17 and Under-15 players, educating them about the threats match-fixing poses to the game. The tour will run between January 6 and February 20.

The program is sponsored by Betaland, a bookmaker that has offices and a sizeable customer base in Malta. Through it involvement in this scheme, Betaland has taken an important step as a betting operator of assisting the fight against match-fixing.

The MFA has acted with foresight in addressing the clear risks posed by match-fixing. Through this proactive collaboration, the MFA has taken positive and decisive action in order to safeguard the integrity of Maltese football in the future.

MFA President Norman Darmanin Demajo said “We are here today for two of the threat that match fixing poses to the of football, and secondly, because we are willing to do something about it. With the invaluable assistance of Sportradar and Betaland, the MFA will embark on an ‘integrity tour’ that we believe will be the blueprint of future ‘Say No to Match-Fixing’ campaigns designed to help safeguard our beloved game.”

Head of UEFA Disciplinary and Integrity Services Dr. Emilio García Silvero praised the MFA’s initiative and said other associations should emulate this initiative.

Sportradar Managing Director Andreas Krannich and Betaland Director Luigi Discornia were also present for the press-conference.

Photos: Copyright © Joe Borg