Starlizard Integrity Services (SIS), the specialist integrity division of London-based sports betting and data consultancy Starlizard, has identified 79 football matches played globally between January and June 2024 as suspicious. This marks a significant rise in match-fixing concerns, particularly within the CONMEBOL region, highlighting the ongoing challenges in maintaining the integrity of football.
Notable Findings in CONMEBOL Region
- Surge in Suspicious Matches: A concerning 21.5% of the suspicious matches were concentrated in one country within the CONMEBOL region, reflecting a dramatic 200% increase compared to the same period last year. This substantial rise points to a heightened risk in this area.
- Domestic Tiers: Out of the 79 matches flagged, 17 (21.5%) originated from this country, with six occurring in the top domestic tier and eleven in the second tier. This distribution underlines the broad impact of suspicious activities across various levels of competition.
- Regional Trends: Within the CONMEBOL region, 33 matches (41.8%) were flagged as suspicious, marking a substantial increase from only 11 matches identified in the same period last year. This represents 0.56% of all CONMEBOL region matches analysed during the first half of 2024, showing a troubling trend in this part of the world.
Overall Match Integrity Insights
- Match Analysis: SIS reviewed 36,841 football matches globally during the first half of 2024. The 79 suspicious matches identified account for 0.21% of the total analysed, a decrease from 0.48% in the same period last year, when only 16,336 matches were reviewed. This indicates a shift in the distribution of suspicious activities.
- First-Half Betting Market Irregularities: There has been a near doubling in the number of suspicious matches associated with first-half-only betting markets, rising to 40 from 21 in the first half of 2023. This increase highlights a growing trend in match-fixing strategies targeting specific betting markets.
- Suspicion Ratings: Among the 79 flagged matches, 11 (13.9%) were classified with a HIGH level of suspicion, while 39 matches (49.4%) received a MEDIUM suspicion rating. This distribution reflects varying degrees of concern across the identified matches.
Regional and Domestic Trends
- UEFA Region: In the UEFA region, 29 suspicious matches (36.7%) were identified, a decrease from 40 matches in the same period last year. This represents 0.15% of UEFA matches analysed, showing a reduction in suspicious activities in this region.
- Domestic Competitions: A notable 62% of the suspicious matches occurred in domestic competitions below the top tier, with 24.1% in top-tier competitions. This indicates that match-fixing is prevalent across different levels of domestic football.
- Club Friendlies: Seven suspicious matches (9.1%) were identified as friendly games, despite such matches representing only 4% of the total number of games analysed. This highlights that even non-competitive matches are not immune to manipulation.
Expert Commentary
Affy Sheikh, Head of Starlizard Integrity Services Remarked:
The first half of 2024 has highlighted several troubling trends, especially the notable increase in suspicious matches within the CONMEBOL region. This 200% increase is a stark reminder that match-fixers continuously adapt to exploit any vulnerabilities they find. The growing manipulation in first-half-only betting markets is another worrying development, with 40 matches targeted in this way, up from 21 in 2023.
Although the overall percentage of suspicious matches is relatively low, the data highlights the persistent threat to the integrity of football. It is crucial for the sport to engage in serious reflection and enhance its strategies to address this persistent issue effectively. https://www.starlizardintegrity.com/
