Swedish Football Association denied bid to be involved in gambling licensing
Court dismisses SFA’s claims that licensing increases risk of match fixing
A Swedish court has rejected an appeal by the Swedish Football Association (SFA) to stop the issuing of sports betting licences by Spelinspektionen because of match-fixing fears.
The appeal, first launched by the SFA in December, centres on claims that the issuing of licences by the regulator invites match fixing, and as a result the SFA should be able to determine regulations and reject the issuing of licences.
A Swedish administrative court dismissed this assertion, stating that the SFA’s objectives do not “concern” the provision of sports betting licenses and as a result, they should have no say in either the regulations or issuing process.
Responding to the ruling, Anders Hübinette, head of legal for the SFA, dismissed the claim that sports betting was outside of its purview and confirmed the SFA has lodged an appeal with the Swedish Supreme Administrative court.
“We think that we as a Football Association, responsible for administrating all football matches in Sweden, and as such has to handle all matchfixing problems that follows from betting, is concerned to a very high extent,” Hübinette added.
Following the re-regulation of the Swedish market, regulations were introduced by Spelinspektionen to make match fixing a criminal offence.
Under the new law, anyone who deliberately or through gross negligence allows match fixing can receive a maximum two-year prison term. Both the athlete or individual who fixes the match and the match fixing organiser are subject to criminal liability.
As part of the regulatory process, Spelinspektionen is currently working with various industry stakeholders to introduce additional restrictions on sports betting through the creation of further laws.