FIFPro launches app allowing players to report match-fixing

PanARMENIAN.Net - FIFPro has launched a new system that will allow players who are approached to fix matches, or who suspect games are being manipulated, to report their suspicions by pushing a ‘panic button’ on their mobile phones, Goal.com reports.

FIFPro has launched a new system that will allow players who are approached to fix matches, or who suspect games are being manipulated, to report their suspicions by pushing a ‘panic button’ on their mobile phones.

Footballers across Europe can now download the anti-match-fixing app to their phones and will be given a password to report any approaches via a red button. The system developed by the international players’ union utilises European funding and will be available to all footballers.

Harri Syvasalmi, a member of Finland’s sports ministry and chair of the European Union’s Expert Group on match-fixing, told the Press Association news agency: “This will be available to all players through FIFPro. A player gets a password and he can push the red button anonymously and the message goes to a place that will investigate it. He does not have to identify himself if he or she does not want to do so.” Syvasalmi said that the app would allow players to also report suspicions about matches they are watching on television. “That’s a possibility as well as you need those guys who watch games and understand what is going on,” he said.

With a number of high-profile match-fixing cases coming to light of late, Syvasalmi praised UEFA’s efforts in combating the threat but said FIFA needs to do more. He added: “UEFA is on the right path. They are monitoring 30,000 matches-plus but FIFA only 1,500. I think what UEFA puts in to that is really professional but absolutely FIFA needs to do more, and not only FIFA most of the sports federations need to do more. People think this is just a problem in football, there are a lot of cases in football but it’s is also problem in other sports – tennis, cricket, rugby.”