According to Antti Koivula, a lawyer who knows the world of betting well, there are several serious problems associated with match manipulation, one of which is the erosion of the credibility of sports.
– In football, certain Asian leagues have been so thoroughly corrupt that almost every match has been manipulated in some way. This has led to the destruction of those series. There are no spectators, some have been stopped completely. Not even honest sponsors, spectators or players are interested in such activity.
– If you look outside of sports, match manipulation feeds organized crime. It is a way to earn money, but also a way to finance other illegal activities such as human or drug trafficking. It also provides an opportunity for money laundering.
Match manipulations are often complex tangles that are difficult to investigate. According to Koivula, preventing the phenomenon requires a wide range of actions.
One way is to increase awareness of the problem and its consequences. Koivula mentions training programs where young pledges of different sports are taught how to behave if cheaters contact them.
International cooperation and commitment to eradicating the problem also play a big role.
– Interest groups, i.e. everyone connected to this phenomenon (sport federations, players, sponsors, betting companies) should look at more than their own navel. Match manipulation is often seen as a PR disadvantage, but you should look at the big picture, says Koivula.
– The fact that a few betting companies organize a conference and say that this is a bad thing does not help anything. It should be possible to develop cooperation at the authority level in particular. That’s the key to everything.