ESSA to tackle crime in sport

, the representative body for regulated sports-betting operators, is to participate in an 18-month project aimed at tackling match-fixing in sport.

The Kick Crime Out of Sport (KCOOS) scheme was approved following the Council of Europe’s successful bid to a European Commission call for proposals on “new integrated mechanisms for cooperation between public and private actors to identify sports betting risks".

There are a number of other stakeholders involved in the project including Interpol, the International Olympic Committee and the British and French regulatory authorities.

Khalid Ali, secretary general of ESSA, said: “The project marks another important milestone in the development of an effective and coordinated international collaboration between key stakeholders that are intent on driving criminals out of sport.

“Responsible regulated betting operators want nothing else than sport to be free from manipulation and will do whatever we can to help to achieve that.”

During the KCOOS meeting in Brussels, stakeholders examined ways in which practical resources could be used to aid the project, including the development of a handbook on good practices.

Numerous events will be held globally to explore the different legislative models and tools which deal with match fixing, such as player education and information exchange.