UK signs Macolin Convention to counter match-fixing

The government of UK has signed Macolin Convention to enhance its measures to counter match-fixing in sports.

Macolin Convention, officially called the Council of Europe Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions, has formulated mechanisms to to prevent, detect and punish match fixing. The UK has become of 34th signatory to the convention, which is named after the Swiss town where the convention was signed.

Minister for Sports and Civil Society Mims Davies signed the treaty for the UK in the presence of Gabriella Battaini Dragoni, Council of Europe Deputy Secretary General.

This is the only treaty to fight the manipulation of sports competitions.

Davies said after signing the treaty:

“Match-fixing is a real threat to the integrity of sport. It is a crime that robs spectators of the pleasure of watching a contest that they can trust.

While I’m confident that we have a robust system in place to prevent match-fixing, we cannot be complacent. It is a cross-border issue, and only through a coordinated international effort can we mitigate the risks.”

Deputy Secretary General Gabriella Battaini Dragoni said:

“I warmly welcome today the United Kingdom’s signature of the Council of Europe Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions. This treaty is the only international legally-binding instrument against match-fixing, illegal betting, bad governance, insider information, conflicts of interests and the use of clubs as shell companies. This is a clear commitment by the United Kingdom to secure integrity in sport through our convention.”

Richard Watson, Gambling Commission Executive Director for Enforcement and Intelligence, said:

“We are pleased that the government has signed the Convention. It demonstrates our commitment to international collaboration in the fight against the manipulation of sports competitions and to protecting the integrity of both sport and sports betting in Great Britain.”