Brazilian specialist in sports integrity launches e-book on match-fixing

Lawyer and specialist in sports integrity Thiago Horta, member of several ethics and integrity committees in bodies such as the Paulista Football Federation, COB and others, has just launched the e-book “Manipulation of Results in Football: Learn how to protect yourself”.

This is a manual aimed primarily at soccer players. In a simple and direct way, the author seeks to open their eyes to some situations that can harm their careers, in addition to suggesting appropriate conduct that they should follow.

Thiago points out that “in 2022, 139 cases of match-fixing were identified in Brazilian football, as indicated in a report produced by a company that monitors betting sites” (Sportradar).

“Most of these cases were played by football players. And as a consequence of this, several of them ended up denounced in the sports sphere and suffered serious punishments. Some even received banishment, and are now banned from playing professional football for the rest of their lives,” recalls Thiago.

“Punishment is necessary. There's no doubt about it. But where is the educational work that should be done to prevent athletes from participating in this type of infraction?”, he asks.

“I am sure that lack of knowledge about the subject is a key factor for football players to continue to be targeted by recruiters and led to collaborate in fraud,” he points out.

This needs to end.

“In order to continue contributing to the search for solutions to this serious situation (something I have been doing for some years) I developed this e-book that I present today,” he says on his social networks.

In short, the idea is that the e-book is a tool that serves as a shield against the approach of recruiters, manipulators and other opportunists.

Some of the topics covered:

• What is match-fixing and what precautions should they take to avoid being tricked;
• How their eventual involvement with betting can lead them to addiction and, ultimately, lead them to manipulate results;
• Why is getting into debt a factor that can cause serious integrity problems?;
• Why is knowing the rules essential for athletes to be able to act in accordance with ethical and disciplinary precepts?;
• Why is reporting illegal situations everyone's duty and not a simple choice?

“I stress, finally, that the e-book could also be a useful tool for all those who want to have a better understanding of how athletes are reached by recruiters or who, eventually, have the desire to contribute with them in the process from prevention to manipulation of results,” he concludes.

To access the e-book, just click here.

Source: GMB