The Czech Republic is aiming to join the Council of Europe Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions, widely known as the Macolin Convention. The Sports Ministry aims to strengthen measures against match-fixing and betting-related corruption following a major integrity scandal that emerged in the country.
Local media obtained a proposal from Sports, Prevention and Health Minister Boris Šťastný, which has been co-sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The proposal now requires approval from the Government.
The explanatory report outlines the benefits of joining the convention, stating: “Manipulation of the results of sports competitions is generally considered one of the biggest current threats to sport across all sectors. It undermines the values of sport, such as integrity, fair play and respect for others, and also threatens the unpredictability of sport, which makes it such an important social phenomenon.”
The Czech Republic agreed to adopt the convention in June 2016, but it was never signed. According to Minister Šťastný, the time has now come for the Cabinet to complete the process of joining the convention.
The development follows a major football match-fixing scandal that emerged in the country earlier this year. In March, the National Centre Against Organised Crime launched an operation into suspected match-fixing.
The investigation led to 32 people being charged, including football players, officials and referees. The charges include corruption, fraud, participation in an organised crime group and money laundering. The suspects were allegedly influencing matches in the top division and lower competitions.
The Convention largely promotes measures against sports manipulation that are already part of Czech law, including provisions under the Criminal Code and the Gambling Act. The main benefit would therefore be the ability to exchange information on effective strategies with other member states, as betting syndicates often operate across national borders.
Czech criminal law does not recognise match-fixing as a standalone offence, but manipulating sports competitions can be prosecuted under various general criminal offences such as fraud or bribery
