Fifa security chief calls for strict match-fixing laws
Security director says world governing body is helping draft European legislation, but AFC head admits action in Asia 'could be difficult'
Soccer authorities vowed yesterday to excise the "cancer" of match-fixing but said tougher laws were needed worldwide to smash criminal syndicates responsible for throwing hundreds of matches.
Fifa's director of security Ralf Mutschke told a two-day gathering with Interpol that the world governing body's "zero tolerance" for match-fixing must be buttressed by "the right policies for law enforcement and the football community".
The meeting comes on the heels of revelations a fortnight ago that almost 700 matches worldwide, including Champions League ties and World Cup qualifiers, were targeted by gambling gangs.
"We are banning players and referees for life but criminals are out there free - they get no sentence. That's wrong," Mutschke said when asked to comment on Singapore's refusal to arrest a key suspect wanted in Italy and suspected of rigging games.
"We have to bring in governments to change legislation and laws. Many countries do not have laws to fight match manipulation," Mutschke said. He pointed to the November acquittal of three players in Switzerland accused of committing fraud by throwing games, where a judge said there was no obvious victim.
Mutschke said Fifa was cooperating with the Council of Europe to draft legislation to fight match-fixing, with hopes it would be implemented across the continent.