Political Calls for Action on Match-Fixing in Swedish Football
Political figures in Sweden demand urgent action against match-fixing in football following serious new revelations.
Key Points
- • Significant match-fixing network uncovered in Swedish football
- • Lars Isacsson criticizes government inaction and calls for police unit reinstatement
- • Swedish Football Supporters' Union supports tougher measures
- • Connections between match-fixing and organized crime raise concerns
Recent revelations of a significant match-fixing network in Swedish football have triggered strong political responses, highlighting concerns over the government's approach to combating this issue. Investigations have uncovered detailed plans to manipulate matches across various leagues, including Superettan and Division 2, through seized phone chat logs. These findings have posed serious questions about the integrity of the sport and its ties to organized crime.
Lars Isacsson, a member of parliament representing the Social Democratic Party, has openly criticized the government's response, questioning Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer on the lack of preventive measures. He described the current situation as "frightening" and emphasized that match-fixing is linked not only to the integrity of sports but also involves organized crime factors such as extortion and money laundering. Isacsson particularly condemned the disbanding of the police's sports crime unit, the Aktionsgrupp Idrott (AGI), in 2021, calling it a critical error that needs reviewing.
The Swedish Football Association (SvFF) has initiated its own investigation in response to these findings, with a former club leader identified as a key figure within the match-fixing scheme, though he has denied any wrongdoing. The ongoing situation raises alarm in the football community, where questions about the volume of criminal activities within the sport are surfacing.
Echoing Isacsson's sentiments, the Swedish Football Supporters' Union (SFSU) has joined the calls for substantial measures against match-fixing. Chairman Tryggve Pederby criticized the police's focus on maintaining order during matches rather than confronting the growing influence of gang-related crime within football. He advocated for collaborative efforts between law enforcement, the football federation, and other stakeholders to strengthen the safeguarding of the sport's reputation.
The link between match-fixing and organized crime has added urgency to the situation. Authorities now face the dual challenge of investigating current instances while implementing stronger preventative measures, including tighter regulations on betting activities and education for players and officials regarding the risks of match manipulation. Continued inaction could jeopardize the integrity of Swedish football and diminish public trust in the sport.