The first-ever FIFA-Interpol Workshop on ‘Tackling Match Fixing and Corruption in Football’ ended successfully in New Delhi on Thursday. The Workshop was held for two days, on January 15 and 16.

The Workshop was attended by representatives from FIFA, Interpol (the World’s largest Police Organisation), All India Football Federation (AIFF), International Cricket Council (ICC), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), club officials and Delhi Police.

Dr. Shaji Prabhakaran, FIFA Development Officer for South and Central Asia, told AIFF Media: “The Workshop ended successfully and the participation from all the stakeholders was very constructive. They resolved to work as a team and put the entire necessary framework into it.”

“It congratulate everyone for their active participation.”

Speaking on the occasion, Chairman of Interpol, FIFA, John Abbott, informed the organisation has targeted a range of practices to curb the menace. “Match fixing is a global problem. There is a professional network involved in this, and hence, we have identified the steps to tackle it,” he stated.

“There needs to be complete up-to-date rules and regulations for football authorities, and there should be a presence of an explicit Code of Conduct. Secondly, there is a strong need for training for the coaches, players and even the club owners, to resist any approach to fixing.”

Nicholas Raudenski, Security Manager with FIFA, stated: “We’re partners with AIFF to ensure integrity in sports. Match fixing is a disease that can kill the future of the game. We also want to make sure that football is strengthened from within.”

“FIFA maintains a zero tolerance to corruption and we are pleased by the stand taken by the AIFF and the CIB to curb the nuisance.”

Subrata Dutta, Vice-President, AIFF, said that all the governing bodies of football, in collaboration with the security agencies and commercial institutions should make a holistic approach in an effort to keep the evils of corruption out of Indian football.

“We have got the rights of hosting the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup and this is reason enough to attract match fixers and betters. We need to keep our gun powders dry to combat it.”

He added: “The AIFF has taken the right step at the right time. Soon we’ll be a force to reckon with and this is the right moment to start implementing things in the right direction and make sure nobody brings disrepute to this game.”

(Report & Picture courtesy AIFF Media)