Sportradar to fund universal fraud detection system for global sport
Sportradar has unveiled plans for a new Universal Fraud Detection System (UFDS) that will be offered free of charge to all sports federations and leagues from later this year.
Developed by Sportradar Integrity Services, UFDS will build on its existing bet monitoring service, which monitored more than 600,000 sporting fixtures in more than 1,000 competitions in 2020.
The new system will be funded by Sportradar itself and the supplier said it will be available to all of sport, in a move it says will strengthen the integrity of global sport.
Sportradar said the system – which has been backed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) – has been developed in consultation with its existing fraud detection partners, and it will seek to liaise with other sporting bodies in the lead up to the UFDS’s launch in October.
Carsten Koerl, Sportradar Group chief executive, said: “We believe that integrity is fundamental to public confidence in sport, and that wrongdoing at any tier of competition affects all levels of sports and its fans.
“Today marks a very special day in the history of our company, as we announce the upcoming launch of our core bet monitoring system, at no financial charge to any sports federation or league that wants to use it. By making this significant investment in integrity via the UFDS initiative, we are demonstrating our commitment to support the sustainability of sport around the globe.”
The IOC’s Olympic Movement Unit on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions said the UFDS initiative can have a significant impact on integrity standards across global sport.
“Utilising this substantial investment by Sportradar with its proven and reliable bet monitoring of the global betting market can be the foundation for a holistic integrity programme,” it said.
“Therefore, all sporting organisations are reminded once again, that an all-encompassing approach – as in the OM Unit PMC’s specific ’3 Pillar Strategy’ – is fundamental in order to achieve sustainable and long-term results.”
Sportradar said more than 5,300 matches have been classified as suspicious by its current bet monitoring service over the past 15 years. Sportradar Integrity Services has supported over 400 successful sporting disciplinary sanctions, and over 30 successful criminal convictions against those who have sought to corrupt sport.