by Ryan D. Jaeger
Following a number of suspicious betting cases involving popular sports
last year, the government commissioned the UK's Sports Betting Integrity Panel
to investigate the issue and publish a report.
Yesterday, Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe was handed the report which
recommended a number of interesting measures to ensure that the matter of
betting corruption is tackled to the maximum ability.
One of the key recommendations was the formation of a body called the Sports
Betting Intelligence Unit, to be incorporated under the Gambling Commission
umbrella and headed by a director.
The role of this new unit would be to ensure that intelligence about sports
betting corruption is handled correctly and that all investigations are carried
out according to UK sports rules.
The panel, headed by ex Liverpool club CE, Rick Parry, also called for a
review of the Gambling Commission's powers so that corruption in the
sports industry is fought through all the channels.
"The report that I've delivered to the Minister today presents a clear way
forward in tackling the growing threat of corruption to the integrity of sport,"
said Parry. "We have to take the toughest possible approach if we want to stamp
out cheating - and that's why it's so vitally important that the recommendations
are taken on board and followed through."
Parry added that "this should be a no compromise approach - the panel has
identified a number of areas that need work and we now need the full sign up of
the government, the gambling industry, sports governing boards, the Police and
the Gambling Commission to put them into practice."
