The Canadian Soccer League has been communicating with Canadian law enforcement since attending an Interpol meeting in New York City January 2013 to discuss match fixing, and is pleased to learn that investigations are now underway by the RCMP to ascertain if there is merit in a report of a study by the International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) in Qatar of unusual betting activity on CSL matches played during the 2015 season.
The CSL earlier pledged co-operation and assistance to the Ontario Provincial Police following their interest in a game played at Trois-Rivieres, Quebec in 2009, and has reinforced that pledge with the RCMP more recently. Betting on CSL matches in known to occur in Europe.
The league sought assistance during 2010 to 2012 from the Canadian Soccer Association and FIFA following reports of the 2009 game, but no assistance was made available.
Interest by the RCMP is considered by the CSL to be a positive development in the league’s efforts to come to terms with “suspicious betting activity” on the outcome of CSL matches, which invariably leads to allegations or suggestions of match manipulation.
“While the earlier investigation of the 2009 game did not produce sufficient evidence and, therefore, did not continue, it is hoped a current investigation will be completed to the fullest,” said CSL Chairman Vincent Ursini Thursday.
The CSL will be implementing a number of measures to monitor all games during the upcoming season and is considering the possibility of working closely with an integrity company in Europe that monitors betting activity on sporting events, including soccer. The highly regarded International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) has also offered assistance.