Manipulation of high-level sport competitions
- a deliberate agreement, act or omission which attempts to influence the conduct or outcome of a sporting competition of excellence with a view to eliminating, in whole or in part, the unpredictability of that sporting competition and thereby giving oneself or others an unfair advantage.
(Article 2(16) of the Law on Sport)
Manipulation in sport and manipulation of sporting competitions is a threat to sport today. The increasing commercialisation of sport affects the supply of legal and illegal betting on sporting events, events and/or results, and in many cases the financial insecurity of sports organisations and athletes are the main reasons for the prevalence of manipulation of sporting competitions in the world, including in Lithuania. For example, according to the World Football Federation (FIFA), the pre-arranged gambling industry is worth around €90 billion a year. The annual turnover of the shadow economy in the Asian market due to sports manipulation is around USD 104 billion, which is several times the annual turnover of Amazon, Coca Cola and McDonalds combined.
Match-fixing is latent and often sports organisations and those involved are not interested in publicising match-fixing as it can damage their image and reputation and may result in a loss of support from sponsors, municipalities, individuals and legal entities.
Who coordinates the fight against match-fixing in Lithuania?
18 September 2014 Lithuania signs the Council of Europe Convention on the manipulation of sport competitions. The Convention on the Manipulation of Sporting Competitions obliges the States that have joined it to establish a national platform to collect, analyse and share information on violations at national level, to coordinate actions to combat the manipulation of sporting competitions, and to co-operate with similar national platforms in other countries.
15 November 2022 By Order No V-1789 of the Minister of Education, Science and Sport of the Republic of Lithuania "On the amendment of the Order of the Minister of Education, Science and Sport of 23 April 2020 No V-606 "On the Approval of the Articles of Association of the Public Institution Lithuanian Anti-Doping Agency", the Lithuanian Anti-Doping Agency is entrusted with the functions of the coordinator of the fight against manipulation of sports competitions in Lithuania.
The process of smooth and expeditious exchange of information between institutions in Lithuania is ensured by a cooperation agreement signed in 2015 between the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport, the Ministry of the Interior, the Police Department, the General Prosecutor's Office, the Gambling Supervision Authority, the Special Investigation Service and the Financial Crime Investigation Service.
The Agency aims not only to act as a link in inter-institutional cooperation, but also to assist, advise and coordinate the activities of law enforcement authorities and sports organisations.
The Agency is currently collecting, analysing and carrying out information and data collection, analysis and threat assessment on manipulation in sport and manipulation of sport competitions in Lithuania. The findings of the risk assessment and analysis will be presented here in the future.
You can report infringements:
After completing the notification form :
https://antidopingas.lt/pranesimas-apie-pazeidima/
Telephone +370 5 230 55 43
Telephone +370 5 230 55 43
Recommendations for sports organisations
The Convention is addressed not only to public authorities, but also to sports organisations, which should implement the principles of good governance in sport, actively carry out educational and preventive activities, disseminate information and promote a "zero tolerance" approach, implement high ethical standards, assess the phenomenon of manipulation of sports competitions in their operational documents and codes of ethics, and provide for penalties for participating in collusion in the conduct and/or outcome of sports competitions.
Unfortunately, we observe a sluggish and formal approach and lack of cooperation between sports organisations, sports federations and other sports entities in the area of match-fixing.
In 2023, the Anti-Doping Agency adopted guidelines on coordination within sports organisations and advice in the event of information about possible manipulation in sport or manipulation of sporting competitions (PDF).
In 2023, the Anti-Doping Agency adopted guidelines on coordination within sports organisations and advice in the event of information about possible manipulation in sport or manipulation of sporting competitions (PDF).
Recomendations to sports organisations
1. adopt or update, as appropriate, a Code of Ethics and Discipline that includes :
a ban on the manipulation of sporting competitions;
provides for disciplinary (sporting) liability for manipulation of sporting competitions;
Prohibits betting on yourself and on people close to you (e.g. family members or teammates);
prohibits the disclosure and provision of any information about the event for betting purposes;
The obligation to provide information and suggestions on the prevention of manipulation in sport.
2. appoint a Fair Play Officer responsible for the prevention of match-fixing.
3. Encourage athletes and others to report possible manipulation in sport. Periodically remind people where and how they can report. Where possible, establish an information and reporting channel within your sport organisation, or in its absence, use the Anti-Doping Agency Helpline and other reporting channels.
4. develop its own operational model for checking, responding to and reporting possible violations of sport manipulation. Recommendations from the Agency can also be used. Such rules should describe:
a) How can information about possible infringements be obtained?
b) Who decides on the verification and follow-up of the information?
c) How is the information transmitted to the police and the Agency?
(d) What is the liability for cheating in sports competitions?
e) What is considered to be unacceptable conduct by athletes and persons involved in sport?
a ban on the manipulation of sporting competitions;
provides for disciplinary (sporting) liability for manipulation of sporting competitions;
Prohibits betting on yourself and on people close to you (e.g. family members or teammates);
prohibits the disclosure and provision of any information about the event for betting purposes;
The obligation to provide information and suggestions on the prevention of manipulation in sport.
2. appoint a Fair Play Officer responsible for the prevention of match-fixing.
3. Encourage athletes and others to report possible manipulation in sport. Periodically remind people where and how they can report. Where possible, establish an information and reporting channel within your sport organisation, or in its absence, use the Anti-Doping Agency Helpline and other reporting channels.
4. develop its own operational model for checking, responding to and reporting possible violations of sport manipulation. Recommendations from the Agency can also be used. Such rules should describe:
a) How can information about possible infringements be obtained?
b) Who decides on the verification and follow-up of the information?
c) How is the information transmitted to the police and the Agency?
(d) What is the liability for cheating in sports competitions?
e) What is considered to be unacceptable conduct by athletes and persons involved in sport?
Preventive advice for athletes on match-fixing:
Be fair - don't manipulate sporting competitions, play fair. Even if we believe that manipulation of sport and manipulation of sporting competitions will not damage the predictability and fairness of the competition, it can ruin your career as an athlete and may lead to disciplinary or even criminal sanctions. Always say "no" to the manipulation of sports competitions. Remember, your behaviour is an example to other athletes, especially young people.
Be smart - know the rules for competing in sports and be aware of the requirements and prohibitions set out in your sports activity agreements. You cannot bet on the outcome of a pre-agreed competition.
Be careful not to disclose confidential information that is accessible to you. For example, do not share with third parties information about unpublished or unreported injuries to yourself or to other players, or about your choice of tactics for a match. The publication of such information is usually prohibited by contracts and the rules and regulations of sports organisations. If you publish such non-public information, you may face legal consequences.
Be open - if you are asked to organise and participate in the manipulation of a sporting event, to provide non-public information, or if you become aware that others are involved in the manipulation of a sporting event, please inform the Agency immediately. This is the best way to protect yourself and the sport from a wide range of threats and risks, including sport manipulation.
Be smart - know the rules for competing in sports and be aware of the requirements and prohibitions set out in your sports activity agreements. You cannot bet on the outcome of a pre-agreed competition.
Be careful not to disclose confidential information that is accessible to you. For example, do not share with third parties information about unpublished or unreported injuries to yourself or to other players, or about your choice of tactics for a match. The publication of such information is usually prohibited by contracts and the rules and regulations of sports organisations. If you publish such non-public information, you may face legal consequences.
Be open - if you are asked to organise and participate in the manipulation of a sporting event, to provide non-public information, or if you become aware that others are involved in the manipulation of a sporting event, please inform the Agency immediately. This is the best way to protect yourself and the sport from a wide range of threats and risks, including sport manipulation.
Liability for manipulation in sport and manipulation of sporting competitions
In all cases, the violation of the Code of Ethics and Disciplinary Conduct, which all sports organisations are required to have in place, may subject the athlete, coach, referee and any other natural and/or legal person associated with the sports organisation to disciplinary (sporting) liability with additional sanctions, such as a warning, a fine, a disqualification, the withdrawal of prizes (trophies, titles, awards), or a ban from participation in some or all activities associated with the sports organisation.
Criminal liability is provided for in Article 182-1 of the Criminal Code, "Manipulation of sporting competitions", which applies only in the event of a finding of manipulation of a high-level sporting competition.
Criminal liability is provided for in Article 182-1 of the Criminal Code, "Manipulation of sporting competitions", which applies only in the event of a finding of manipulation of a high-level sporting competition.
