Agency to Ensure Betting Stays Clean

Representatives of some of the world's major sporting bodies have proposed the creation of a global anti-corruption agency to deal with match-fixing and corruption in sport.

The football world governing body FIFA, International Rugby Board and the England and Wales Cricket board were among the bodies represented at a meeting in Brussels last Thursday to deliver a report to the European Union on ways to cut down on corruption in sports betting.

Powerful body
The proposal presented to the EU includes an agency that will have powers of investigation, serve as a licensing agency for bookmakers, and will be able to exclude nations that do not comply with its terms from major sporting tournaments.

The meeting has come amid growing fears amongst sporting bodies that the Internet has enabled international access to bookmakers that do not adhere to national jurisdictions.

Development and protection
In a statement on its Website, European football governing body UEFA - which was also present at the Brussels meeting - said, "Sports competition organizers should be represented in any regulatory authority which is created, and closely associated with the development of the sports betting market. Betting operators must contribute to a sustainable, workable and financed framework to preserve the integrity of sports competitions and to protect them against any form of betting corruption."