Macolin Convention

Key updates-

• During the 12th IMFTF, the participants discussed the emerging uses of technology, big data and social media given that criminal syndicates were increasingly operating across betting and sports markets.

• At the event, the members deliberated on various mechanisms to improve intelligence sharing and plug legislative and institutional gaps through methods “such as the establishment of national platforms, as outlined in the Macolin Convention, that centralise and analyse information on irregular and suspicious trends.
• The three-day meeting brought together integrity and intelligence specialists from some 50 countries, representing law enforcement, public authorities, sports federations, anti-doping organisations and betting monitoring services.

• It was the first major event held under the banner of its newly created Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre (IFCACC).

• At same time, the Interpol and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) held a side event dedicated to stakeholders in the United Arab Emirates for raising awareness, capacity-building and enhancing national mechanisms to detect and prevent competition manipulation.

• Created in 2011, the IMFTF now has 100 member units, with more than 150 national points of contact worldwide.

• IMFTF forms the focus of INTERPOL’s operational response in this area. It brings together law enforcement agencies around the world to tackle match-fixing and corruption in sport.
• It focuses on sharing experiences and best practices and acts as a platform for investigations and international case coordination.
• The IMFTF supports member countries in criminal investigations and joint operations in all sports, and maintain a global network of investigators that share information, intelligence and best practices.

About Macolin Convention-

• The Council of Europe Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions, known as the Macolin Convention, is a multilateral treaty aimed at checking match-fixing. 
• The convention was concluded in Macolin/Magglingen, Switzerland, on 18 September 2014.
• It came into force on September 1, 2019.
• It is a legal instrument and the only rule of international law on the manipulation of sports competitions. 
• It requests public authorities to cooperate with sports organisations, betting operators and competition organisers to prevent, detect and sanction the manipulation of sports competitions. 
• It has been ratified by Greece, Italy, Norway, Portugal, the Republic of Moldova, Switzerland and Ukraine. 
• It has been signed by 30 other European States, as well as by Australia and Morocco.
• A major focus of the convention is to prevent and punish illegal sports betting operations and to prevent conflicts of interest in legal sports betting operators and sports organisations.

Further reading: https://journalsofindia.com/interpol/