Corruption in sport
THIS WEEK, I did a guest lecture on ‘Corruption in Sport’ for my good friend, lecturer Kemesha Kelly; and it jogged my mind to a presentation I attended as an undergrad on the same topic area – the issue then (2001) was corruption and FIFA. The presenter then linked what was happening at FIFA to perceived corruption in football in CONCACAF and Caribbean Football Union (CFU). Years later, an FBI investigation, and subsequent arrests and bans of several FIFA officials proved that all was not well at FIFA. Today, I am left to wonder whether we in Jamaica should be more concerned about corruption in sport.
The simple answer is that we should; for the simple reason that corruption in sport is so rampant and widespread globally, that it touches everywhere with every sport now being susceptible. With increased commercialisation of sport, and the large sums of money now surrounding the sporting industry, there is a lot more at stake. Consequently, there is the pressure to win at all cost, or even lose – just whatever it takes for cash. It doesn’t matter if the competition is professional or amateur, once there is TV coverage, social media or any version of live streaming, then there is the possibility of corruption as the illegal betting and gambling industry now rakes in billions of US dollars per year.
NOT WELL PAID
The potential problem we face in Jamaica is that our sportsmen and women are not well paid, so the opportunity to triple or quadruple what they earn lure them into match-fixing, spotfixing, doping or any other form of corruption in sport. Former South African cricket captain Hansie Cronje, New Zealand cricketer Lou Vincent and several Pakistan players have previously been banned for match or spot-fixing. Referees, match officials, even ground staff have fallen prey to corruption. Tennis is now believed to be one of the most susceptible sports to corruption. So, if those more professional leagues and sports are struggling to manage this beast, why would we think we cannot be caught in the ‘Webb’?
Another challenge for us is that most of our sport governing bodies have weak governance frameworks, including outdated constitutions. This then creates issues related to transparency, democracy and accountability. When that happens, it can potentially create a breeding ground for corruption. In fact, if you ask most sportsmen and women, they will tell you they are not happy with the investment made in them or the sport, as opposed to board/executive members ‘helping their friends’. This causes an erosion of confidence in capabilities of many of our sport leaders.
Concern increases as national sporting organisations are autonomous, technically with no reporting necessary to any oversight body in Jamaica. This is because international bodies fight hard against government interference. The Jamaica Olympic Association and the Government through the Sport Development Foundation (SDF) have been trying to hold most associations accountable by insisting on good governance, or funding would be withheld. However, this can only go so far as they do not have powers to intervene under normal circumstances.
CONSTANT DISCUSSION
The Transparency International ‘Global Corruption Report: Sports’ gives us a good idea of what occurs globally as it relates to corruption in sport. We have to pay close attention to our sport at all levels, including tertiary and high schools. In the USA, there is constant discussion about corruption in college sport, and the concerns that illegal gambling might play a huge role in athletes engaging in match-fixing activities.
The effect of corruption in sport is wide-ranging. The sportsmen and women who get involved sometimes cannot get out; as those who are betting, and the bookmakers are oftentimes powerful, and in some cases, on the wrong side of the law. Fans then grow increasingly sceptical as it becomes even more difficult globally to determine which games or events are fixed or have been manipulated in some way.
Where do we go from here? A step in the right direction would be to establish a National Policy on Match-Fixing in Sport, following international standards. Let’s not bury our heads in the sand and think we are safe or wait until some investigative piece shows up our weaknesses. The time to act is now.