Starlizard Integrity Services Reports 159 Suspicious Football Matches in 2024
In a recent report published by Starlizard Integrity Services (SIS), a sports integrity specialist, a total of 159 football matches played worldwide in 2024 have been flagged as suspicious. This analysis was part of a broader study encompassing over 74,000 matches across various competitions, including national and international fixtures, as well as friendly games.
The findings indicate that suspicious matches accounted for about 0.21% of the total matches analyzed, which is a slight decline from the prior year when there were 171 matches recorded as suspicious, representing 0.23%. In South America, a significant 67 matches were categorized as suspicious, marking a notably higher rate at 0.61% compared to the global average. Moreover, an increase of 11.3% in the number of matches analyzed from South America was observed compared to 2023.
Out of the 159 suspicious matches identified, a staggering 139, or 87.4%, were associated with national championship and cup competitions. The study also revealed that 57.9% of these matches occurred in lower division leagues, accentuating the ongoing vulnerabilities within the competitive structures outside of top-tier leagues.
Concerns remain regarding friendly matches, with 14 being flagged as suspicious, which signifies 0.51% of the total analyzed friendly matches in 2024. This figure demonstrates a decrease from 0.78% in 2023, but the prevalence of suspicious activities continues to highlight the need for ongoing vigilance in such games. Notably, across all friendly categories, including youth, international, and female matches, a total of 0.42% were considered suspicious.
The SIS report categorized matches as 'suspicious' when associated with dubious betting patterns that could indicate potential match manipulation. During the analysis, it was revealed that 38.4% of the flagged matches had questionable betting activity focused around 'half-time' markets, which is a particular area of concern for integrity specialists. Another eleven matches displayed suspicious bets in both 'half-time' and 'full-time' markets, emphasizing the trend of fluctuating integrity levels, especially in specific betting environments.
Affy Sheikh, the head of integrity services at Starlizard, expressed cautious optimism regarding the overall findings of the 2024 report, citing a slight decline in both the number and percentage of suspicious matches. Sheikh stated, "Any decrease in the number of suspicious matches is encouraging as it may suggest the effectiveness of ongoing efforts to enhance the integrity of football. However, the statistics also reveal troubling trends mostly concentrated in South America and underscore the significant continued activity on 'half-time' betting markets."
The SIS highlighted its commitment to collaborate with worldwide partners to maintain the integrity of football at all levels. This commitment extends to the free provision of its Komodo platform, a tool designed to assist sports governing bodies and regulatory authorities in combating match-fixing. The platform offers alerts and detailed reports on suspicious games, serving as a vital aide in the fight against integrity breaches in the sport.
The realm of sports betting and its intersection with match integrity will continue to require robust monitoring and investigative efforts, particularly as digital platforms facilitate increased access to betting markets. The full report can be accessed and downloaded from the Starlizard Integrity Services website, www.starlizardintegrity.com, which promises to remain a pivotal resource in the ongoing endeavor against match manipulation and fraudulent activities in football.
The findings indicate that suspicious matches accounted for about 0.21% of the total matches analyzed, which is a slight decline from the prior year when there were 171 matches recorded as suspicious, representing 0.23%. In South America, a significant 67 matches were categorized as suspicious, marking a notably higher rate at 0.61% compared to the global average. Moreover, an increase of 11.3% in the number of matches analyzed from South America was observed compared to 2023.
Out of the 159 suspicious matches identified, a staggering 139, or 87.4%, were associated with national championship and cup competitions. The study also revealed that 57.9% of these matches occurred in lower division leagues, accentuating the ongoing vulnerabilities within the competitive structures outside of top-tier leagues.
Concerns remain regarding friendly matches, with 14 being flagged as suspicious, which signifies 0.51% of the total analyzed friendly matches in 2024. This figure demonstrates a decrease from 0.78% in 2023, but the prevalence of suspicious activities continues to highlight the need for ongoing vigilance in such games. Notably, across all friendly categories, including youth, international, and female matches, a total of 0.42% were considered suspicious.
The SIS report categorized matches as 'suspicious' when associated with dubious betting patterns that could indicate potential match manipulation. During the analysis, it was revealed that 38.4% of the flagged matches had questionable betting activity focused around 'half-time' markets, which is a particular area of concern for integrity specialists. Another eleven matches displayed suspicious bets in both 'half-time' and 'full-time' markets, emphasizing the trend of fluctuating integrity levels, especially in specific betting environments.
Affy Sheikh, the head of integrity services at Starlizard, expressed cautious optimism regarding the overall findings of the 2024 report, citing a slight decline in both the number and percentage of suspicious matches. Sheikh stated, "Any decrease in the number of suspicious matches is encouraging as it may suggest the effectiveness of ongoing efforts to enhance the integrity of football. However, the statistics also reveal troubling trends mostly concentrated in South America and underscore the significant continued activity on 'half-time' betting markets."
The SIS highlighted its commitment to collaborate with worldwide partners to maintain the integrity of football at all levels. This commitment extends to the free provision of its Komodo platform, a tool designed to assist sports governing bodies and regulatory authorities in combating match-fixing. The platform offers alerts and detailed reports on suspicious games, serving as a vital aide in the fight against integrity breaches in the sport.
The realm of sports betting and its intersection with match integrity will continue to require robust monitoring and investigative efforts, particularly as digital platforms facilitate increased access to betting markets. The full report can be accessed and downloaded from the Starlizard Integrity Services website, www.starlizardintegrity.com, which promises to remain a pivotal resource in the ongoing endeavor against match manipulation and fraudulent activities in football.
Topics Policy & Public Interest）
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