EFDN and Unibet extend their partnership within the Netherlands
The European Football Development Network (EFDN) and Unibet extend their cooperation to the Netherlands. Kindred Group, the parent company of Unibet, has developed the Fair Sports 4 All project together with EFDN. This project aims to raise awareness of the risks of match-fixing by providing information to clubs, players, and other stakeholders involved. The parties will now roll out this project in the Netherlands.
Matchfixing is seen as one of the biggest threats to contemporary football. It undermines the overall spirit of the sport and goes against the principles of fairness, respect, and integrity. The widespread and global nature of match-fixing means that actively combating it has become a priority for sports organisations and governments around the world.
In light of these developments, the EFDN, together with Kindred Group, has established the Fair Sport 4 All programme to join forces in combating matchfixing. The programme aims to create awareness among players, coaching staff, and other stakeholders about the risks of match-fixing, share best practices and develop new educational tools that can be used to prevent or tackle match-fixing.
“Sport brings people together. This positive power of sport is lost when the principles of sport are undermined by matchfixing. That is why we are joining forces to protect the integrity of our sport. We are proud that we can roll out the Fair Sports 4 All programme in the Netherlands with Unibet, a party with whom we cooperate in several European countries and who has extensive knowledge and experience in fighting match-fixing,”
Hubert Rovers, CEO of EFDN
About the partnership
Kindred Group, the parent company of Unibet, is the first commercial partner of EFDN since 2019. The network aims to use the power of football as a tool to promote social community projects and share knowledge. With the licensing of Unibet in the Netherlands, the parties expand their cooperation further. In the Netherlands Unibet and EFDN will, among other things, provide information on match-fixing and start a fund to financially support social projects of professional football clubs.
About Unibet
Unibet was founded in 1997 and is part of Kindred Group – one of the world’s leading online gambling providers with 9 brands in its portfolio. Unibet received an online gaming license from the Dutch Gaming Authority on 8 June. Players can bet on a wide range of sporting events and play exclusive online casino games through Unibet.
“Unibet sees an explicit responsibility for the gaming sector to actively contribute to match-fixing education for athletes, coaches and other parties involved in sports. Besides Fair Sports 4 all, we will also launch the ‘More than Football Fund’ together with EFDN. With this fund, we want to further strengthen the social power of football clubs. This fits well with our ambitions for Unibet Impact.”
Lennart Kessels, General Manager of Unibet Netherlands
About Unibet Impact
Unibet Impact is a unique programme based on partnerships with parties in professional and amateur sports and social organisations. The programme supports initiatives in the areas of responsible gaming, prevention of match-fixing, and the promotion of Dutch sport and sporting culture.
Fair Sport 4 All
Fair Sport 4 All is a 36-month-programme that aims to raise awareness of the threats of match-fixing, by educating clubs’, players and all stakeholders involved in the game. The main objective of the programme is to ensure that the integrity and values of true sportsmanship are represented, respected, and encouraged by all individuals involved in European football.
To safeguard the integrity and to reinforce the true values of sportsmanship, the Fair Sport 4 All programme proposes a number of comprehensive components. EFDN will provide guidance and support within the context of social responsibility of clubs, by the creation of the ‘Fair Sport 4 All Handbook’. This handbook features a set of guidelines on how clubs can sustain the integrity of football, which can also be used by leagues, FAs, and all stakeholders operating within football. This handbook will help to educate players on match-fixing, no matter the level they play at.