Danish Government forms crime unit to tackle match fixing

Denmark’s Culture and Sports Ministry is set to announce a new crime/investigation unit that will tackle match within the nation’s professional sporting leagues.

Danish Minister of Culture Marianne Jelved has revealed that the unit had been formed with the aid of several key establishments including Danish professional sporting bodies, the police, betting operators and governmental agencies.

The unit will focus on tackling the criminalisation of sports in Denmark, concentrating on bribery, match fixing and sports fraud.

Danish news sources have stated that the Government are willing to stiffen its punishment with regards to sports corruption.

Danish football had been struck by allegations of match fixing in August, as six people had been charged with involvement in match fixing second tier matches involving Danish football clubs, Hvidovre IF,  Vejle Boldklub and FC Hjørring

Commenting on the new inititives Marianne Jelved stated

“Match-fixing is the greatest challenge that faces sport today. If the results of the games are predetermined, it undermines the founding values of sport.”

“Meanwhile, it can have massive and negative financial consequences for the clubs, and also for the individuals not involved who are undeservedly associated with match-fixing.”