“Extensive criminal network involved.”
“Biggest-ever investigation” into match fixing.
Numbers into the hundreds of officials, players and criminals under suspicion and being scrutinized.
These clearly are not the words and elements you want to see associated with global soccer. But here it is, as we told you earlier.
Ralf Mutschke, FIFA Director of Security, says greater cooperation will be required between law enforcement agencies and sports’ governing bodies in order to cleanse the infection.
He wants tougher policies and harsher sanctions for violators, such as lifetime bans, and says FIFA guidelines provide sufficient teeth.
What Mutschke said after today’s announcement from Europol out of the Hague on wide-ranging accusations of corruption:
The news today from Europol follows a long investigation. I have been very clear in saying that match-fixing and match manipulation is a global problem, and one that is not going to go away tomorrow. FIFA and the football community are committed to tackling this problem, but we will not succeed alone.
“The cooperation between law enforcement and sporting organizations needs to be strengthened. The support of law enforcement bodies, legal investigations, and ultimately tougher sanctions are required, as currently there is low risk and high gain potential for the fixers.”
