The FBI will work alongside FIFA in a bid to protect the upcoming World Cup in Qatar from potential match-fixing.
According to a FIFA announcement, federal investigators from the FBI joined a panel meeting alongside Interpol and gambling regulatory authorities to discuss the World Cup and any potential attempts by organized crime groups to rig matches. The panel meeting was ostensibly created to oversee the ‘timely handling of integrity matters’ relating to the tournament and match fixing was high on the agenda.
The news of the FBI’s involvement comes as no surprise given that seven years ago, federal investigators looked into alleged corruption in football’s world governing body. That investigation saw a raft of top-level officials including former FIFA president Sepp Blatter being banned from the sport for financial misconduct.
According to a FIFA statement:
“The FBI, as the principal law enforcement and investigative service of the United States, will be joining the group to contribute with its experience and expertise, also in preparation for the FIFA World Cup 2026.”
FIFA also said that its Integrity Task Force will monitor “betting markets and in-game action in real time” for the 64 games scheduled for the controversial World Cup located in Qatar.
The Integrity Task Force was set up in response to several match-fixing scandals that rocked international soccer in 2010 and 2011. At the time, it was discovered that friendly games were typically targeted by Asian crime syndicates with referees bribed to show red cards and make decisions that would affect the outcome of the game. Several top-level officials were also implicated in the scandal.
Gambling industry journalist with a background in online poker and trading. Covering the regulated U.S Sports industry and the exciting world of online poker.