Canadian Premier League (CPL) players may now rest confident that they are aware of the hazards of match-fixing after receiving education on the subject from the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA).
The IBIA stated that from June to September, eight CPL teams and a total of 173 players participated in an intense instructional program that included specialized in-person training and online resources.
The Professional Footballers’ Association of Canada (PFA Canada) presented the campaign, incorporating it within the organization’s ‘Protecting the Integrity of the Game’ seminars.
Sessions all over the country
Sessions were held in Ontario, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, British Columbia, and Alberta, and included the football teams York United, Forge, Atletico Ottawa, HFX Wanderers, Valour, Pacific FC, Vancouver FC, and Cavalry.
Cavalry FC’s Marco Carducci, President of PFA Canada, stated that the IBIA sports betting integrity training in cooperation with PFA Canada was highly useful for their players.It was effective and easy to grasp, outlining what professional sportsmen should know about sports betting integrity and how to report attempted corruption.
We appreciate IBIA’s assistance in maintaining the game’s integrity, as well as protecting and educating our participants.”
Throughout the program, players were informed about the risks to sports betting posed by match-fixing, a general overview of the relevant rules and sanctions, how technology can help protect sports integrity, and how to successfully report suspected criminal behaviour using the internationally recognized Red Button app.
Dan Kruk, Executive Director of PFA Canada, added: “Thanks to our collaboration with IBIA, nearly 200 Canadian Premier League players attended PFA Canada’s Protecting the Integrity of the Game workshop this season.“
“As a result, stakeholders can be confident our members know their obligations regarding gambling and match-fixing in their sport, how to recognize an approach to fix a match, and crucially, their duty to report any person attempting to manipulate a match.”
The program concludes the first phase of a two-year player education contract between the IBIA and PFA Canada.
Furthermore, it is the first such campaign to be delivered as part of a larger three-year fund established by the IBIA and its members, bet365, Betway, and FanDuel, with the trio contributing a total of CA$300,000 to educate the Canadian sports sector on the risks of corruption.
Khalid Ali, CEO of IBIA, concluded: “We take our responsibility to protect regulated sports betting markets, sports, and athletes very seriously. Effective regulation, education, and teamwork are crucial for ensuring sports integrity, as demonstrated by decades of experience. We are thrilled with the success of the PFA Canada education program and look forward to the project’s second year.”
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