21 July 2008, Lisbon
Memorandum of Understanding between EPFL and ESSA signed in Lisbon Monday 21 July 2008.
The Association of European Professional Football Leagues (EPFL) and the European Sports Security Agency (ESSA) joined efforts to prevent sports betting from having any negative impact on the European Leagues’ football matches. The EPFL believes that the unlawful use of sports betting affects football’s positive image and credibility, driving away fans, sponsors and investors. As competitions’ organisers and employers’ representattives, the Leagues, and the EPFL as their umbrella organisation at the European level, are strongly committeed to use all their power and influence to preserve the integrity of Professional Football in Europe.
The partnership between the EPFL and ESSA was sealed Monday 21 July 2008, in Lisbon, Portugal, with the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by Sir David Richards and Dr. Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros, respectively Chairman and CEO of the EPFL, and Mr David Pittel, General Manager of ESSA. The event took place at 11:00 CET, at the Hotel Dom Pedro Palace (Av. Eng. Duarte Pacheco, 24, Lisboa, Portugal).
By entering into this MoU, the EPFL wishes to send an important public sign to the whole football world and betting market: the EPFL and its 27 affiliated Leagues are strongly determined to keep Professional Football clean and protected against any possible dishonest betting practices.
As part of the EPFL’s strategy to achieve this purpose, the MoU foresees the implementation of a “Global Early Warning System”, setting out the cases and conditions under which sports betting operators must share information about insider betting and irregular betting patterns with the EPFL and, subsequently, its affiliated Leagues.
This instrument will confer to the EPFL members and associate members the chance to take precaucionary measures whenever unusual betting patterns are detected and effectivelly confirmed. And, therefore, will enable them to deter any possible atempt to manipulate matches and take action against any potential wrong-doers. Immediately after the signature cerimony of the mentioned MoU, the EPFL Chief Executive announced the Association’s strategy action plan on sports betting integrity.
For further information, please contact the EPFL Communication, Marketing and Event Manager, Dr Alberto Colombo (alberto.colombo@epfl-europeanleagues.com);
Mob: + 351 91 228 4066
Tel: + 41 79 237 5104;
Fax: + 351 213 868 296.
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