Eredivisie CV Urges Inclusion of Gambling Ban in Player Contracts
Last Sunday, NOS reported that 25 players from professional football have in recent months gambled on matches in which they themselves played or on their own league. The numbers are in a “trend analysis” by the Sports Betting Intelligence Unit (SBIU), a hotline of the Dutch Gambling Authority for signals of possible match-fixing.
“The Eredivisie CV has been urging for some time that every player contract should clearly state by default that a player is not allowed to gamble on matches in professional football. Now it is implicitly there through a reference to UEFA and FIFA regulations. We have long wanted to make it explicit, so it is clear. Better safe than sorry! Players then sign a contract stipulating that they will not gamble on football matches. Then, in our opinion, there can no longer be ignorance. We trust that the players and their interest representatives feel the same way.”
Eredivisie CV director Jan de Jong
Besides explicitly including a gambling ban in players’ contracts, the Eredivisie CV welcomes the initiative of players’ union VVCS to better inform players on the subject. Since November, the union has been touring selections to inform them about gambling rules and the dangers of match-fixing. Central to this is the VVCS Red Button app that allows players to easily, discreetly and, if desired, anonymously report match-fixing invitations.
Fair Sport 4 All
In addition to the VVCS, in cooperation with UNIBET, EFDN has set up a programme to combat this issue in football. As stated above the main issue at hand is that of ignorance and therefore, the education of footballers is vital in eradicating this issue from the game and keeping the integrity within the sport.
Match-fixing is seen as one of the biggest threats facing modern-day football. It undermines the overall spirit of the games and the principles of fairness, respect and integrity. The widespread and global nature of match-fixing has made it a problem that has now become a priority for sports movements and public authorities worldwide. Such that, the European Football for Development Network has created the Fair Sport 4 All programme, to call attention to the responsibility everyone has, in promoting clean and fair competitions.
Together with UNIBET, EFDN has already held workshops at, SC Cambuur and Club Brugge, and will continue to host these workshops with the goal to educate the football clubs of their responsibility in football. If any club would like to participate in such a workshop, please contact EFDN.
