FIFA has partnered with the United Nations to launch a campaign to combat match-fixing in football. 

The international football body will work with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to encourage players, coaches, officials, and others involved with the game to use confidential platforms to report suspected foul play. 

Commenting on the initiative FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, said:

“This new joint campaign between FIFA and UNODC, just a few weeks after the signing of our memorandum of understanding, is a strong message about our absolute commitment and determination to eliminating match-fixing and corruption in football.

“In these unprecedented times marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is essential that we work together with partners such as the UNODC to ensure that players, coaches and officials have the confidence to speak out against match-fixing, as well as any other integrity issues.”

While UNODC executive director, Ghada Waly, added:

“Sports and sporting events are vital to our well-being, and they have a crucial role to play in helping our societies and economies recover from the pandemic. That is why we must work together to ensure that sport recovers with integrity.”

AYO.NEWS says:

The intentions of this initiative are obviously to be applauded, but whether it can really make much difference, coming from two organisations that are widely viewed as totally discredited and havens of corruption themselves, is doubtful. 

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