Global Issue - fixing in other sports

Sports corruption is not confined to cricket and is a global issue impacting governing bodies across multiple disciplines, including tennis, snooker, basketball and esports. While each sport operates under its own rules and regulatory frameworks, a consistent vulnerability exists in the presence of betting markets and the targeting of susceptible participants.

In tennis, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) recently sanctioned two players and one official for breaches of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program. One player admitted to fixing four matches in which they participated and was charged with accepting payment, conspiring to commit corrupt offences and failing to report corrupt approaches. The sanctioned official had made corrupt approaches to players in 2025 and, although initially cooperative with ITIA inquiries, later withdrew from communication entirely. This lack of engagement ultimately resulted in additional charges for failing to cooperate with the investigation.

Similarly, esports has recently concluded a significant match-fixing case involving a high-profile competitor who admitted to deliberately influencing the outcome of every match his team lost. The player was contracted to a top Chinese team and earning a substantial salary, contrasting with most match-fixing cases globally where financial instability is a primary vulnerability.

Despite differences in rules and formats across sports, common themes persist, including match-fixing, exploitation of participants and the influence of betting markets. However, there is also alignment in how governing bodies respond. Increasingly, organisations prioritise preventative measures, particularly education and awareness initiatives, as a first line of defence before enforcement and investigation.

While the threats may evolve, sport is moving from reactive enforcement to proactive protection. The challenge now is not simply to respond to corruption, but to stay ahead of it and in doing so, protect the credibility of sport and everything it represents.