Former France captain Platini and Noble agreed to work towards a Memorandum of Understanding to be signed in the near future that will reinforce the working relationship and exchange of information between the two organisations.
“For Uefa, the ongoing fight against match-fixing is one of the most important priorities in my second term as president,” said Platini. “By agreeing to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Interpol, and by working closely with its network and through our betting fraud detection system, the net is now tightening on those involved in match-fixing and illegal sports betting.”
Interpol’s secretary general Ronald K Noble again underlined the world police body’s commitment to helping stamp out all forms of crime affecting the integrity of the sport and match security.
“Clearly, match-fixing is a worldwide issue,” said the Interpol boss. “Interpol is ideally placed to help Uefa, FIFA and all footballing professionals tackle the issue effectively at a global level, but at the same time it’s important not to lose sight of other types of crime which can affect the sport.”
He added: “Following my meeting with Michel Platini, I can confidently say that the collaboration that already exists between Uefa and Interpol in tackling the issue of match-fixing will become even closer.”
Working together ahead of Euro 2012
With Interpol already set to provide support ahead of and during the Uefa Euro 2012 tournament through the deployment of Interpol Major Events Support Teams (IMESTs) to the two host countries, Poland and Ukraine, the framework is already in place for closer liaison in combating all forms of crime to better protect the sport (as well as its players, officials and fans).
As part of the support being provided by Interpol during Uefa Euro 2012, the IMESTs deployed to Poland and Ukraine will liaise with all of the world police body’s 190 member countries to facilitate the real-time exchange of messages and key police intelligence including fingerprints, wanted persons notices and data relating to stolen and lost travel documents and stolen motor vehicles.
In 2011, Interpol created its Integrity in Sport Unit as part of the ten-year venture agreed between FIFA and Interpol to target match-fixing and illegal and irregular betting across the globe.
In addition to developing training workshops and e-learning programmes for both those directly involved in football and law enforcement, the unit will establish a network of dedicated contact points throughout the world ahead of the opening of the dedicated FIFA Anti-Corruption Training Wing within the Interpol Global Complex for Innovation in Singapore, due to become operational in early 2014.
