The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) is escalating its efforts to combat fraud in the gambling sector. To do so, the federation has partnered with betting research service SIGMA, in a bid to trace suspicious betting patterns and corruption within sports, and particularly football in Spain.
This new alliance between RFEF and SIGMA will leverage data analysis as a tool to detect potential fraudulent activities. The data will be used not only to trace irregular betting patterns in general but also those from individuals in possession of professional sports licenses.
This includes players, coaches, and other license holders who may be suspected of any fraudulent betting activity related to Spanish football.
RFEF Management Committee president, Pedro Rocha, said:
"To be a true example, we must ensure equal opportunities, the safety and protection of all those who play the game and, of course, its cleanliness."
“Working against illegal sports betting means protecting our football and taking care of its cleanliness, continuing to provide transparency and to collaborate with the relevant institutions and security forces.”
The collaboration with SIGMA follows RFEF's increased focus on anti-fraud measures in sports betting via an agreement with the Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling (DJOG).
This written agreement underscores how such fraudulent activities can undermine both participants' interests and operators within this sector. It further highlights that these activities pose one of the greatest threats to sport integrity.
This partnership signifies a significant step forward by RFEF towards ensuring fair play within sports.
By leveraging data analysis and research, the federation aims to maintain the integrity of Spanish sports and protect it from fraudulent activities that could potentially tarnish its reputation.
