Out of 40 EPATHLA Findings of Possible Match-Fixing – 9 Proceeded for Further Investigation

In the presence of the Deputy Minister of Education, Religion and Sports, Yiannis Vroutsis, the Minister of Justice, Giorgos Floridis, the president of the EOE, the European Olympic Committees and member of the IOC, Spyros Kapralos, the president of the International Olympic Academy, Isidoros Kouvelos, the head of Sports sector of the Council of Europe, Sophie Kwasny and representatives of the IOC, INTERPOL, UEFA, EPATHLA, EPO, Betting Companies, Federations, Athletes’ Associations, etc., the GCA and president of EPATHLA, Giorgos Mavrotas , proceeded to present its activities for 2023.

In addition to the educational actions, the collaborations and the international presence in which he mentioned that as Greece we are leading internationally, Mr. Mavrotas made it known that in 2023 and until now EPATHLA issued findings on 40 cases and nine of them proceeded for further investigation (welcoming a total of 105 reports from various sources related to 14 sports).

Criminal charges are coming

During his deposition, Konstantinos Spyropoulos, Sports Prosecutor of the Athens Court of First Instance, pointed out the important role of EPATHLA in the efforts made to detect rigged matches and revealed that within 2024 criminal prosecutions are expected in ongoing cases, while expressing the belief that the phenomenon of continuing to see in sports people who have been persecuted in the past will stop.

The Director of the Economic Police, Dimitris Loukopoulos, also spoke about the key role played by EPATHLA for the results in a serious investigation case.

In his greeting, the Minister of Sports, Yannis Vroutsis, after repeating once again that the fight against the manipulation of matches is a priority for the political leadership, he referred to the important work carried out by EPATHLA which “is now a recognized good international practice for many countries ».

He congratulated the ΑγA and president of EPATHLA, Giorgos Mavrotas, who “since the first day of the implementation of this platform, in November 2020, has developed all the know-how and has developed to the maximum the tools that can contribute the most to our audience fight for sport free from shadows and expediencies”.

Mr. Vroutsis emphasized that “we are moving forward with substantial reform movements in the entire spectrum of Sports, with one of our main axes being the promotion and dissemination of its Values, as we inherited them from our ancestors.

It would therefore be an oxymoron not to give enormous importance to the issue of sports integrity in all areas.

We are on the side of athletes, athletes and fans, creating a landscape free from pathogens, taking care of their safety but also of ensuring their own money which as resources is directed to sports and we must use it properly!”.

The Minister of Sports did not fail to point out that “the fight against the manipulation of matches is a complex and intractable issue, but together with Mr. Mavrotas and the valuable experience of all EPATHLA members, we are moving ahead relentlessly to optimize the tools offered through the actions of the Platform”, highlighting the “innovative actions such as the pre game alert, the e-learning tool, the anonymous reporting platform” with which we seek to “contribute to the cleansing of the sports movement from situations that affect its credibility”.

Mr. Vroutsis concluded: “Having the people of the Sports as allies, EPATHLA will continue to fight its fight even more strengthened. We are here to manage, through coordinated actions, to offer the fans a sport based on pure values, which will teach and spread timeless messages of E Competition.

The manipulation of sports events is a global threat that the sports movement cannot face alone. It needs synergies and I believe that now all those involved, prosecuting authorities, sports and government bodies, have consolidated it and are working systematically with the aim of eliminating the phenomenon”.

The Minister of Justice, Giorgos Floridis, after congratulating the Ministry of Sports, the Minister, the Secretary General “for the commendable initiative of organizing this international event”, continued by emphasizing that: “The world is a big village and whatever happens in our it concerns everyone. Therefore, close international cooperation is needed for the problems that concern us all and I hope that at the end of this international “Sports Integrity Week” the necessary conclusions will be drawn to deal with the huge issue of manipulation in sports as well. Sports was born in Greece and we have an even greater obligation to deal with the destruction of its essence. Because what’s left of sport when cheating takes over? Nothing! From great joy, it turns to great bitterness. What is left when the noble amilla is gone? Nothing! We must therefore support the effort to defend sports and they deserve congratulations again for the work being done in this direction”.

42% increase in red-alerts after the pandemic

Nicolas Sayde, Secretary of the Macolin Convention of the Council of Europe, Corentin Segalen, President of the Network of National Platforms, Dieter Braekeveld, Head of Sports Integrity Training at Interpol, Vangelis Alexandrakis, Executive of the IOC Olympic Movement’s Match Fixing Unit, Stephanie Eichenberger, UEFA Match Fixing Expert and Gilles Maillet, President of the United Lotteries for Integrity in Sports (ULIS) Executive Committee.

Presentations and reports were made in relation to the development of prosecutorial and prosecuting authority networks at European and global level, while evidence was presented in relation to the sports that organized crime chooses most to attempt to manipulate as well as the profile of athletes, coaches and referees that it chooses to approach. It was also emphasized that there is a 42% increase compared to 2022, especially in red alerts for fixed games after the COVID 19 pandemic, when there was a big financial problem in sports. From UEFA’s side, it was emphasized that in 2024 reporting mechanisms will be developed exclusively for the Federation, while the harmonization of disciplinary law between its member states will also proceed. All the representatives of the foreign bodies emphasized that international initiatives such as the Sports Integrity Week organized in Athens are very important in the direction of the international cooperation which is pivotal in dealing with manipulation.

Giannis Fustanakis, Director of Strategic Planning of the National Transparency Authority, Maria Dimopoulou, Head of the Sub-Directorate of Security and Administrative Sanctions of the Games Supervision and Control Committee and Vassilis Papakostas also spoke about the assistance of the ATHLA bodies. , Director of the Electronic Crime Prosecution Directorate of ELAS. The coordinators of the groups, Vassilis Keramaris and Athanasios Strigas, respectively, were appointed for the work of EPATHLA working groups, receiving – evaluating reports and training – raising awareness.

Their experience from their collaboration with the EPA ATHLA. but also the actions they have developed in the area of ​​prevention, the representatives of the associations of team sports athletes submitted:

– Yannis Bracho (PSAPP-football)

– Andreas Glyniadakis (PSAK – basketball)

– Yiannis Achilleopoulos (PA.S.A.P. – volleyball)

– Grigoris Kapetanakis (S.EAY – polo)

– Haris Mallios (PSACH-handball)

The representatives of the athletes from football, basketball, volleyball, polo and handball referred to their constructive cooperation with EPATHLA, they developed the actions they have undertaken mainly in the area of ​​informing and training their members about the manipulation of matches, but and the possibilities they now have through the National Platform to report anonymously and through the Red-Button card that has been distributed to the athletes.

They emphasized that one of the key factors in tackling match-fixing is prevention. They did not hide that the financial problem leads to the majority of players being vulnerable and for this reason initiatives must be taken (eg medical coverage) to minimize the chances of an athlete accepting to manipulate a match. Among the proposals of the athletes was the institutionalization of a career advisor, but also the creation of a mechanism in EPATHLA that will be able to immediately notify the athlete – suspected of manipulation, so that it works as a deterrent.

The role of the Hellenic Olympic Committee in the fight against the manipulation of matches was spoken by Ms. Foteini Karamanlakis, (liaison of the EOE with the IOC in matters of match manipulation).

Dimitris Davakis, from EPO, Vassilis Dakouris from EEC, Nikos Sofianos from EOP and Kostas Stamatiadis from OHE were appointed for the role of Integrity Advisor.