Mapping of corruption in sport in the EU

The Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (DG EAC) of the European Commission commissioned Ecorys in July 2018 to undertake a mapping review of sport and corruption across the EU28. Recent high profile cases of corruption in sport have shown the potential damage corruption cases can cause to sport’s reputation for integrity and fair play. Corruption has been shown to manifest in varying contexts ranging from non-profit community-based activities through to activities involving high profile international events. In addition to traditional forms of corruption, particular types of corruption such as match fixing, spot fixing and doping are unique to the industry. The complex and multidimensional nature of corruption in sport has created significant challenges for sport management and policy makers in identifying where the problems lie and developing actions to safeguard the integrity of sport globally. The key objective of this small-scale research study has been to complete a mapping review of the types of corruption that exist in different EU Member States, if/how they are dealt with at national and/or international level and what kind of legal instruments exist to deal with them and minimise potential risks. The study has sought to provide the European Commission with adequate knowledge of existing initiatives in order to identify where best to focus its efforts – and those of the Member States – in the years to come.