Evidence-based Prevention Of Sporting-related Match-fixing

Background Match-fixing is one of the biggest threats to sport. Although the interest in match-fixing has grown over the years; media, academia, and past Erasmus+ projects have mainly paid attention to the betting-related type of match-fixing. However, empirical research by Ghent University showed that non-betting-related or "sporting-related" match-fixing occurs more frequently. To raise awareness, moral judgment, and knowledge on sporting-related match-fixing, the EPOSM project has been elaborated. Objectives The EPOSM project had 3 main objectives: (1) raising awareness about the prevalence of sporting-related match-fixing by examining (sporting-related) match-fixing in 7 different countries and multiple sport disciplines, (2) stimulating moral judgment regarding the fact that sporting-related match-fixing is wrong, as it threatens the credibility and attractiveness of sport, and (3) sharing and transferring knowledge on sporting-related match-fixing through the organisation of a training procedure. Implementation The implementation occurred in 3 parts. In a first "academic" part, an online questionnaire on match-fixing was conducted in 7 European countries. In a second "training" part, action plans against match-fixing were elaborated in the 7 countries and subsequently disseminated via workshops. In a third "dissemination" part, the project results were further disseminated via various events and outputs (i.e. the EASM Festival Day, a scientific abstract and papers, a book, and two multiplier events). Achievements First, 5014 respondents participated in the online questionnaires that examined the prevalence of (sporting-related) match-fixing in 7 countries. Second, 15 action plans have been developed and disseminated via 58 workshops reaching 1091 people. Third, an EASM Festival Day, a book, and a scientific abstract (and forthcoming papers) further disseminated the project results. Additionally, the project outputs were disseminated via 2 multiplier events which reached 94 decision-makers in sport.