The two bodies will cooperate on joint activities and in implementing relevant projects, as well as in the exchanging of information on suspected match-fixing cases and methods used by individuals or criminal organisations to manipulate games.

Assistance and advice will also be provided to UEFA and its 54 national member associations on key aspects of contemporary criminal organisation in match-fixing, in the form of education programmes, while the two will also cooperate over their relations with other law enforcement bodies.

The partnership is seen as a key priority by UEFA President Michel Platini
©Getty Images




"Match-fixing is not a fantasy, it is a reality, a sad and serious reality," insisted UEFA President Michel Platini when outlining the partnership.

"UEFA and its member associations know that football authorities do not have the means to deal with this problem by themselves.

"Therefore, I am extremely happy to have the support of Europol.

"By joining forces, we will have more power.

"We have to do everything to preserve the integrity of our games."

This marks the latest in a wave of measures to tackle match-fixing in football as in other sports in recent times, with world governing body FIFA and the International Olympic Committee having both signed agreements with the international criminal police organisation, Interpol, in 2011 and January 2013 respectively.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has also moved to strengthen its own efforts in the battle against match-fixing by requesting all member associations appoint an integrity officer.

The request follows the completion of the AFC Integrity Action Plan, which was sent to member associations earlier this month and recommended the establishment of a network of integrity officers at member association level to act as single points of contact for the AFC's integrity department.

But the scale of the global problem was suggested this week, when British police "red-flagged" a friendly match between Scotland and Nigeria, due to take place tomorrow, amid concerns over irregular betting. 

Following the signing of the partnership with UEFA, Europol director Rob Wainwright insisted "the signing of this MoU is an important step forward in the fight against match-fixing". 

He added: "It shows a strong signal showing Europol's and UEFA's will to do our utmost to minimise this phenomenon, which needs to be taken seriously.

"It sends an important message to organised criminal groups that football and law enforcement are united in seeking to protect one of the world's premier sports."

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