Australia Launches Taskforce to Combat Match-Fixing at Women’s Asian Cup

Australia is set to establish a national taskforce aimed at addressing match-fixing during the upcoming Women’s Asian Cup, which will take place from March 1-21, 2024. This initiative seeks to enhance collaboration between law enforcement, betting companies, and sports organizations following a series of corruption incidents in elite soccer. The taskforce will convene for its inaugural meeting in Melbourne on Wednesday.

The initiative is spearheaded by Sport Integrity Australia (SIA), which reported that it has not received any specific intelligence indicating threats to the 12-nation tournament. Nonetheless, the organization emphasized the importance of proactive measures, focusing on prevention, deterrence, and education regarding match-fixing. According to SIA’s head of international relationships and strategy, James Moller, diverse international athletes may arrive with varying levels of awareness about the risks associated with match-fixing.

“Athletes arrive from a wide range of countries, each with different levels of understanding and attitudes towards match-fixing,” Moller explained. He reiterated that match-fixing is a serious criminal offence in Australia and is subject to thorough investigation by law enforcement agencies.

Recent months have seen two significant spot-fixing cases involving players in the top-tier A-League, underscoring the urgency of the taskforce’s efforts. Former Macarthur Bulls captain Ulises Davila recently pleaded guilty to corruption charges related to the manipulation of yellow cards in A-League matches. Additionally, two of his former teammates were fined last month but avoided convictions in connection with the same case. In a separate incident, former Western United midfielder Riku Danzaki was convicted of fraud in August for similar offences.

The national soccer players’ union has urged Australian authorities to impose a ban on betting related to yellow cards in an effort to mitigate the risk of manipulation in matches. Moller acknowledged the significance of gambling regulation but clarified that it falls outside the SIA’s direct responsibilities.

“What I can say is that, while domestic regulation is important, many of the more concerning betting markets exist offshore, where we have limited ability to intervene,” he noted. “These markets can include types of bets that are more vulnerable to manipulation, and they present an ongoing risk regardless of how we regulate locally.”

As Australia prepares to host the Women’s Asian Cup, the establishment of this taskforce reflects a commitment to ensuring the integrity of the tournament and safeguarding the sport against potential corruption. With collaboration among various stakeholders, the hope is to create an environment where athletes can compete fairly and without the threat of match-fixing.