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FIFA: Whistleblowers will be rewarded

Comment: 0 October 18th, 2011 by: admin

In an attempt to help eradicate max-fixing within the organisation, FIFA has announced that individuals who come forward to report any dirty dealings will be given rewards as well as amnesty.

According to Chris Eaton, head of FIFA security, players will be given the support network they need to feel secure as they come forward to authorities with valuable information.

‘It’s so important that players have a way that they can report [match fixings], Eaton said while speaking at the Professional Players Federation conference recently.  ‘Recognise, resist and report – it’s the three R’s.’

Match fixing is a persistent activity that according to Eaten pulls in players at a young age usually due to pressure from criminals, team mates, even families.  The head of security described criminal activity as something that has ‘changed the nature of sport.’

‘We’re going to have a rewards programme for one month from January, followed by a hotline and amnesty programme for three months, all managed independently,’ said Eaton.

‘This will then be followed by an assessment programme, followed by some sort of amnesty for the players who have been unfairly compromised, and there’ll be rehabilitation for those players.’

The programme will be deployed next year, Eaton revealed, and by the middle of next year the organisation will engage ‘absolute zero tolerance’ – what he called the ‘Sepp Blatter doctrine’.

‘I expect players to come forward,’ said Eaton, who added that his 12 months in FIFA has already seen a number of individuals approaching him with information ‘no matter the consequences.

‘In their heart, they love their sport,’ he said.  ‘In their heart, they want to do the right thing.’

The idea of individuals approaching authorities with information, however, was questioned by Tony Higgins, a member of global players’ union FIFPro.

‘They are terrified of filing in an anonymous questionnaire in the first instance,’ he said.

Individuals deemed guilty of illegal action will receive no immunity from prosecution, while those who have been ‘unfairly compromised’ would be exonerated, without any charges filed.

In its efforts to arrange the programme, FIFA was said to have sought advice from worldwide anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International.

Going on e step further, FIFA will be working with Interpol which, Eaton said, will be involved in the training and teaching of all players, administrators and officials to recognise criminal advances.  Instructions will also be given on how to resist them, and where to go to report them.

FIFA’s attempts to help eradicate dirty dealings come as accusations of corruption are also being thrown at the organisation and its officials, including current president Blatter.

Responding to questions regarding the expected effectiveness of the anti-corruption efforts of an organisation deemed rife with corruption, Eaton urged people to ‘judge it by outcome, not by my words.’

Blatter is set to reveal his plans to combat corruption within FIFA and leagues around the world.  He will be unveiling his plans this week in Switzerland, reports indicate.

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