During the last year, the Swedish game law changed. The change meant, among other things, that betting companies are now allowed to share information with the National Sports Confederation and specialist sports associations that are affiliated with them.
And the Swedish Football Association took advantage of that early on. Following suspicions of match-fixing, information was requested on how two players in a Swedish Division 2 club played with different betting companies.
Match fixing
The coach was furious after the verdict – now the judges have been suspended
H65 Höör reported suspected match-fixing – the case was dropped without the EHF talking to the club
“Clear Evidence”
Then you could see that the players bet money on matches in the same series as they themselves play in, which is not allowed. It caused the players to be suspended for two and five months respectively.
– It will be very clear proof, says Johan Claesson, who is responsible for match-fixing issues at the Swedish Football Association, to SVT Sport.
If this case had been discovered before the new legislation came into force, what would have happened?
– We tried to ask questions like this before the law change, but then it was different from operator to operator. Some felt that they could not release such information due to GDPR, while a few did release information – so it was difficult to get a complete picture.
– But nothing showed up, then it was over. But now we get a picture of what it looks like with all companies that have a license in Sweden.
Convinced of continued effect
Another couple of Swedish sports federations have taken advantage of the new legislation’s possibilities, but so far only the two footballers have been suspended. But Johan Claesson is convinced that the new legislation, and the fact that there are already players who have been suspended thanks to it, has an effect.
– The more people are caught, the greater the knowledge of the regulations and our tools, he says.