Argentina celebrate after winning the FIFA World Cup Qatar final match against France at Lusail Stadium on December 18, 2022. (REUTERS/Carl Recine)
DOHA: The Integrity Task Force established by FIFA to monitor the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 found no signs of betting or match manipulation after monitoring and scrutinising all 64 matches played, FIFA announced on its website today, December 23, 2022.
According to FIFA, the task force comprising an international group of experts successfully completed its work yesterday, December 22, 2022, and declared that no suspicious betting activities or match manipulation cases were identified.
FIFA said that the Integrity Task Force carried out an extensive analysis of the monitoring reports of the betting markets, conducted multi-jurisdictional inquiries, and reviewed surveillance of the eight stadiums for any suspicious behaviour, after which the experts declared that no such threats were detected.
"The composition of the task force ensured an experienced, coordinated, and timely response to any alert of possible match-manipulation incidents and integrity-related issues throughout the FIFA World Cup," said FIFA.
Image: FIFA
The global football governing body stated that it will continue to work with the members of the Integrity Task Force in its aim to secure and protect future FIFA tournaments, adding that it will continue to develop its integrity strategies with confederations, member associations, and other integrity stakeholders in the fight against match manipulation.
The Integrity Task Force during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 worked in tandem with the Qatar Safety & Security Operations Committee (SSOC). The task force also comprises experts from the Council of Europe and its Group of Copenhagen, INTERPOL, the Global Lottery Monitoring System, Sportradar, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and the International Betting Integrity Association.
Furthermore, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation had also joined the group to contribute its experience and expertise, also in preparation for the FIFA World Cup 2026. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has also joined the task force for the first time.
FIFA recently said that the establishment of the task force is in line with its core objective of safeguarding and promoting the integrity of football across all its competitions.
