Global Treaty To Fight Match-Fixing Gets Green Light

The Council of Europe Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions, also known as the Macolin Convention, will enter into force on 1 September.

Switzerland became the fifth Council of Europe member state to ratify the convention – following Norway, Portugal, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine – triggering its entry into force.

“The entry into force of the Macolin Convention is good news for everyone who values fair play and integrity in sport,” said Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland (in photo).

“The convention is a major step forward in the fight against corruption in sport and has received firm backing from major sports organisations and partners including FIFA and UEFA. I urge all of our member states, and countries around the world, to sign and ratify the convention as soon as possible.”

Launched in 2014, the Macolin Convention is the only legally binding international treaty promoting global co-operation to tackle the manipulation of sports competitions.

The convention covers a wide range of issues including match-fixing, illegal betting, poor governance, insider information, conflicts of interest and the use of sports clubs as shell companies.

It is based on the rule of law and takes into account the impact that manipulation has on sport, athletes and society as a whole.

A total of 37 countries, including Australia, have now signed the convention. Other non-European countries, including Cap Verde and Morocco, have also expressed an interest in joining.

Even though the Macolin Convention is an instrument emanating from Europe, the Council of Europe is extremely mindful of the global nature and threat of match manipulation and is therefore encouraging non-European countries to become parties.