A view of workers inside Al Bayt Stadium, Doha, built for the upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup. Earlier this year, Qatar denied the bribery allegations regarding the tournament’s hosting rights. (Source: Reuters)
The economic crisis triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic could make sports more vulnerable to “corruption” and “competition manipulation”, according to a document jointly published by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Interpol and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. warned. The analysis attributed a delay or decrease in the salaries of players and other industry professionals as one of the key reasons.
After almost a three-month hiatus, sporting events around the world gradually begin to resume, albeit in a highly disinfected and spectator-less environment at the stadium. So far, though, it’s largely been the professional leagues that have started, and the Formula 1 GP this weekend and the England-West Indies Test next week will be among the few international events to be held as that the sport finds its way back in a publication. -A greedy world.
However, these games restart in the midst of an unprecedented financial crisis that has affected the entire industry. Players have been suspended or asked to reduce their wages, hundreds of jobs have been lost within sports organizations in different countries, and teams are starting to sink due to the tension caused by the pandemic.
Economic pressure
The IOC said that “ensuring the integrity of sport is at the core of the new normal of sport and is essential for it to emerge from the pandemic.” It has also advised governments and organizations to “develop tools” to detect and report corruption in sport. and prevent tampering.
“Since the salaries of sports professionals can be affected, through reductions or delays in payments, and the economic situation puts pressure on the sport, criminal groups and corrupters can try to exploit this situation to gain influence” , the newspaper stated. “(Sic) Those involved in the fight against corruption in sport and specifically in the prevention of competition manipulation could be using this period to strengthen and improve their existing networks, as well as to make new approaches.”
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The tripartite document has suggested considering ‘avoiding lower wages for the most vulnerable and severely affected or making it temporary.’ “If wage cuts are implemented for top athletes, it is also recommended that the resulting savings be used to support the most vulnerable and severely affected athletes, sports organizations and related employees, “he added.
Enforce legislation
Earlier this week, the head of the Cricket Control Board in the Anti-Corruption Unit of India, Ajit Singh, emphasized the need for a law against match-fixing. The IOC, Interpol and UNODC have also called for the evaluation and “enforcement of national legislation that criminalizes bribery and other forms of corruption.”
It has urged organizations to “use this time to adopt relevant regulations, especially regarding prohibitions on gambling in sports, sharing of inside information, corrupt conduct/manipulation of competition, obligation to report.”
In India, there have been attempts in the past to frame a law in this regard, but so far little action has been taken. Vidushpat Singhania, who was the secretary of the IPL match-fixing investigation committee chaired by Justice Mudgal, said: “Public officials are already covered by the Corruption Prevention Act. With the issue related to the manipulation of sporting events, the Draft Law on the Prevention of Sports Fraud in 2013 was a bill that was formed by the committee to deal with the issue and, although there was no severe objection to it, the bill died slowly. ”
Two years ago, the bar commission suggested legalizing gambling to be regulated by law. However, the government has yet to act on the report.
Financial help
On Thursday, World Archery announced that two Indian archers, Rajat Chauhan and Aman Saini, were among 35 globally who received financial assistance of approximately $ 5,000 each. The donation, awarded to those whose incomes were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, is likely to be sent through the respective national federations
She is a freelance blogger, writer, and speaker, and writes for various entertainment magazines.