Executive summary

• Author: Argyro Elisavet Manoli
• Pages: 6-9

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Executive summary

The Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (DG EAC) of the

European Commission commissioned Ecorys in July 2018 to undertake a mapping review

of sport and corruption across the EU28.

Background

Recent high profile cases of corruption in sport have shown the potential damage

corruption cases can cause to sport’s reputation for integrity and fair play. Corruption

has been shown to manifest in varying contexts ranging from non-profit community-

based activities through to activities involving high profile internati onal events. In

addition to traditi onal forms of corruption, particular types of corruption such as match

fixing, spot fixing and doping are unique to the industry. The complex and

multidimensional nature of corruption in sport has created significant chall enges for sport

management and policy makers in ident ifying where the problems lie and developing

actions to safeguard the integrity of sport globally.

Aims and methodology

The key objective of this small-scale resear ch study has been to complete a mapping

review of the types of corruption that exist in different EU Member States, if/how they

are deal t wi th at national and/or i nternational level a nd wh at ki nd of legal instruments

exist to deal with them and minimise potential risks. The study has sought to provide the

European Commission with ad equate knowledge of existing i nitiatives in order to identif y

where best to focus its efforts – and those of the Member States – i n the years to come.

At the scoping stage of the study a rapid literature review was completed covering the

subject of sport and corruption. The review covered academic publications, offi cial policy

documents and papers. Around 70 relevant documents were identi fied. The mapping of

reported cases and go vernment respons es also built on responses to a call for evidence

which was sent out to members of the EU Expert Group on Sport an d Integrity. The

second element of the desk research was to undertake systematic reviews of available

data and information and evidence on rel evant government and organisational responses

in specific Member States. Within the limits of the resources available for the st udy, it

was possible to complete systematic d esk reviews of available evidence and information

on sport and corruption in 11 countries covering a range of geographies and large and

small countries. Finally, a nu mber of responses were examined in more depth through

more detai led desk research and telephone interviews with contacts in Member States.

This resulted in six case studies which are presented in boxes in the fi ndings chapter.

Key findings and recommendations

The need to tackle corruption in sport is an important element of EU’s policy on sport

integrity. The rapid literature review undertak en for thi s study has shown that the more

detailed empirical studies of corruption in the EU tend to focus on the prevalence of

match-fixing and doping cases. This is reflected in the mapping research for this study as

despite adopting a broad definition of corruption in setting the parameters of th e

research, the vast majority of cases identified from recent years in the sample countries

were identified as either doping or match fixing cases.

The mapp ing research has emphasised the complex interplay of factors a nd c ontextual

issues that can influence match-fi xing activity. The research has also p rovided insights in

to the diversity of match-fi xing practices and its association with other types of

corruption such as bribery. Sp ecific examples of match-fixing have also revealed the

importance of factors such as pay levels of athletes and the level of medi a exposure of

specific matches.