FIFA has collaborated with United Nations on Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to launch the Global Integrity Programme, a comprehensive international initiative that would provide enhanced knowledge and tools for tackling match-fixing to all 211 member associations. The first edition of the programme has already started on March 4 with the first module dedicated to the member associations from the Asian Football Confederation.
Speaking about the programme, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said, “Match-fixing is an issue that is very real and threatens the integrity and credibility of football in many countries around the world. Working in close collaboration with experts at the UNODC and alongside other ongoing efforts that FIFA is taking, the FIFA Global Integrity Programme is another important step by FIFA to protect the integrity of football and will play an important role in educating and building capacity within member associations to help fight match-fixing at a local level.”
The FIFA Global Integrity Programme is in line with the governing body’s vision of making football global along with protecting and promoting the integrity of the game. The programme also reflects tUNODC’s objective of helping governments and sports organisations to safeguard sports from corruption and crime.
Since the objective of this programme is to establish successful and sustainable integrity and anti-corruption actions at the local level, it will be organised regionally per confederation. It will deliver a series of three-module virtual workshops to all FIFA member associations, beginning with AFC.
FIFA is keen to work towards eradicating the threats posed by crime in the sport. Last year, FIFA signed a memorandum of understanding with the UNODC to step up their joint cooperation for the same.
Additionally, the governing body will soon launch the FIFA Integrity Officers Community Platform. The community-driven online yet confidential platform will bring together a global network of integrity officers to share their experience and exchange best practices related to tackling match-fixing and promoting integrity in football.