Safeguarding Sport from Corruption and Economic Crime

LINKS TO OTHER CRIMES

Corruption in sport often intersects with other types of crime, creating complex and interconnected networks. Understanding these interlinkages is essential for developing effective strategies to combat corruption and protect the integrity of sports.

Links with organized crime

Organized criminal groups have a long history of involvement in sports corruption. The acute commercialization of sport, its global nature and value of the sector make it highly attractive to organized criminal groups, providing them with opportunities to generate large profits using cross-border operations at a relatively low risk.

Criminal networks involved in sports corruption are often sophisticated and transnational, comprising various participants, including athletes, referees, officials, agents and bettors. Their operations vary widely based on geographical factors and the types of illicit activities they engage in, complicating the understanding of their behaviour.

The involvement of organized crime in corruption in sport takes various forms, including:

Money-laundering: Organized criminal groups can use sports betting and sponsorship deals to launder money derived from illegal activities.
Extortion: By threatening sports officials or athletes, organized criminal groups can extort money or other favours.
Match-fixing: Organized criminal groups often orchestrate match-fixing schemes to generate profits from illegal betting.

Section 6 of the Global Report on Corruption in Sport: Organized Crime and Sport

Offering for the first time a truly comprehensive look at corruption in sport, this global report reveals the staggering scale, manifestation and complexity of corruption and criminal networks in sport at international and national level. Section 6 is dedicated to organized crime and sport.

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Links with human trafficking

Human trafficking is a growing issue in the sports sector, manifesting in various forms. A prevalent method involves traffickers luring young athletes to foreign countries with false promises of professional opportunities and financial rewards. Victims often incur significant fees for administrative tasks and travel, only to encounter exploitation upon arrival.

Additionally, victims, particularly female athletes, may be subjected to sexual exploitation within the sports industry. Corruption can exacerbate human trafficking by allowing traffickers to operate with impunity, further exploiting vulnerable individuals.

Trafficking can also occur within sports organizations, such as club academies, where victims face financial exploitation and restricted freedoms, including confinement to training facilities, forced labour and confiscation of passports.

Moreover, human trafficking related to major sports events is gaining attention and prompting research. These events create a demand for large workforces, often involving manual labour, and can lead to an increased risk of trafficking for sexual exploitation.

Gender and corruption in sport

Gender and corruption are closely intertwined in many sports. Corruption can create an environment where gender-related issues can occur, often with the complicity of sports officials or other individuals in positions of power, without consequences.

Some specific forms of gender issues that athletes, in particular women athletes, may experience within the sports industry are:

Sexual Harassment: Athletes may face harassment from coaches, team officials or others within the sports industry.
Discrimination: Female athletes often encounter disparities in funding, opportunities and recognition compared to their male counterparts.
Violence: Athletes may also suffer from physical or psychological violence, including sexual assault.

Section 5 of the Global Report on Corruption in Sport: Gender and Corruption in Sport

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United Nations

Office on Drugs and Crime

Corruption and Financial Crime Branch

Safeguarding Sport from Corruption and Economic Crime

LINKS TO OTHER CRIMES

Links with organized crime

Section 6 of the Global Report on Corruption in Sport: Organized Crime and Sport

Links with human trafficking

Gender and corruption in sport

Section 5 of the Global Report on Corruption in Sport: Gender and Corruption in Sport

Resources

UNODC | 2024

Game Over: Exposing the Linkages between Corruption, Serious and Organized Crime in Sport

UNODC | 2022

Crime, Corruption and Wrongdoing in the Transfer of Football Players and Other Athletes

United Nations

Office on Drugs and Crime

Corruption and Financial Crime Branch

Safeguarding Sport from Corruption and Economic Crime

Menu

LINKS TO OTHER CRIMES

Links with organized crime

Section 6 of the Global Report on Corruption in Sport: Organized Crime and Sport

Links with human trafficking

Gender and corruption in sport

Section 5 of the Global Report on Corruption in Sport: Gender and Corruption in Sport

Resources

UNODC | 2024

Game Over: Exposing the Linkages between Corruption, Serious and Organized Crime in Sport

UNODC | 2022

Crime, Corruption and Wrongdoing in the Transfer of Football Players and Other Athletes