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Lack of governance of football friendly (non-competitive) matches exploited by match-fixers

Published

4 years ago

December 1, 2021

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Football friendly matches are wide open for match-fixing due to a lack of regulation according to new research, with more than 250 friendlies involving European clubs showing signs of suspicious activity during 2016-20. The results come from a three-year study funded by the European Commission’s Erasmus+ programme and led by the University of Nicosia Research Foundation.

A survey of 700 players in Cyprus, Greece and Malta conducted by the project also found that:

More than a quarter of players (26.5%) had played in a club friendly they suspected had been manipulated.
More than a quarter (26.3%) of approaches to fix a friendly match were made by club officials and 15% by other players.
Club officials were the instigators in 19% of approaches to manipulate friendlies and were the main beneficiaries in 26.3% of approaches.

The research study found that international and national football federations have been slow to establish where responsibility lies for friendlies, particularly when clubs from different countries are involved in non-competitive matches played in a third country. Some European football federations do not track where clubs go on pre-season and mid-winter tours.

This lack of sporting governance and regulation, combined with the availability of these games on betting markets around the world, notably with poorly or unregulated betting operators in jurisdictions such as Curaçao and the Philippines, who may themselves have links to criminality, leaves these games at greater risk of potential exploitation by match-fixers.

To address this, the report, Combating Match Fixing in Club Football Non-Competitive Friendlies, proposes:

That UEFA enforces regulation of friendlies on all 55 member associations
That match agents are barred from owning or controlling clubs, just as players agents are
The formation of a body to represent match agents in future negotiations with international bodies such as FIFA and UEFA on regulation
Establishing data standards that prevent the sale of live match data to poorly and unregulated betting operators

Unlike competitive matches, which are usually covered by agreements between data companies and competition organisers, friendlies are a free-for-all.

Data from these games is being collected and sold to poorly and unregulated betting operators, which do not report signs of suspicious activity, which is often a licensing requirement for well-regulated operators. This sporting event data collation and sale for betting does not currently fall within the scope of regulation, leaving a potential ‘blind spot’ in terms of market and consumer protection.

Lead investigator, Professor Nicos Kartakoullis, President of the Council, University of Nicosia, comments:

“The combination of a lack of regulation, oversight and information makes these matches easier to manipulate than competitive matches.

“This research shows that in terms of governance, friendly matches need to be considered just like competitive matches.

“With the data for 4,000 friendly matches being offered for betting purposes around the world each year, it is also vital that the betting companies receiving that data are operating from well-regulated jurisdictions and report suspicious betting to protect the integrity of those events.”

The research was led by the University of Nicosia Research Foundation and included the International Betting Integrity Association, EU Athletes, CIES and the football players unions of Cyprus, Greece and Malta as project partners.

Alistair Johnston CCO at Push Gaming

Push Gaming appoints Jonathan Moretta as Head of Account Management

Published

18 minutes ago

April 22, 2026

Wladimir P.

push-gaming-appoints-jonathan-moretta-as-head-of-account-management

The iGaming supplier says the hire supports its partnership strategy and 2026 commercial plans.

Push Gaming has appointed Jonathan Moretta as Head of Account Management as it continues to refine its partnership strategy.

The supplier said Moretta brings more than six years’ experience in the iGaming sector, with a track record of managing partnerships across “key global markets.” The company positioned the appointment as part of its strategic goals for 2026, alongside planned expansion of its commercial and operational infrastructure.

Jonathan Moretta, Head of Account Management at Push Gaming, said: “Push Gaming works with a number of quality partners and I can’t wait to continue solidifying those key relationships. The quality of Push Gaming’s products are undeniable and my goal will be to ensure that this quality is reflected in how we communicate with our key accounts; whether that be highlighting existing favourites or presenting new titles from our upcoming roadmap.”

Alistair Johnston, CCO at Push Gaming, added: ”I am thrilled to welcome Jonathan to the team. He will be instrumental in delivering Push Gaming’s commercial strategy, leading from the front with a proven leadership style. Jonathan brings a transcontinental network of key industry players, underpinned by a rare talent for building the kind of great relationships that skyrocket growth.”

The post Push Gaming appoints Jonathan Moretta as Head of Account Management appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

brand-marketing

Midnite runs free coaches for Southampton fans to FA Cup semi-final at Wembley

Published

18 minutes ago

April 22, 2026

Wladimir P.

midnite-runs-free-coaches-for-southampton-fans-to-fa-cup-semi-final-at-wembley

Midnite is bringing back its “Midnite Express” fan travel initiative, offering free coach transport for Southampton supporters to Wembley for the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City on Saturday, April 25.

The betting brand said three luxury coaches will take more than 100 fans on the round trip from St Mary’s Stadium to Wembley. The company positioned the move as a response to fan requests on social media following Southampton’s FA Cup win over Arsenal.

The trip also coincides with the 50th anniversary of Southampton’s 1976 FA Cup win at Wembley. Midnite said it recently marked that moment with a dedicated TIFO during Southampton’s match with Arsenal, created with a fan-led TIFO committee.

Fans travelling on the coaches will be joined by former Southampton players Shane Long, Franny Benali and Ken Monkou, according to the company.

Andrew Mook, Head of Brand Marketing at Midnite, said: “The response to the Midnite Express this season has been incredible and when fans asked for it to return, we were keen to deliver.

“Supporting Saints fans is central to what we do, whether that is easing the challenges around travel or helping create memorable experiences around the game.

“This is a huge moment for Southampton, especially in such an important anniversary year, and we are proud to help fans get there to support their team.

“We hope this journey will make the match day experience even better.”

The post Midnite runs free coaches for Southampton fans to FA Cup semi-final at Wembley appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

CRM

The Mill Adventure deepens Optimove integration for player engagement

Published

18 minutes ago

April 22, 2026

Wladimir P.

the-mill-adventure-deepens-optimove-integration-for-player-engagement

The Mill Adventure (TMA) has strengthened its integration with Optimove to expand player engagement and CRM capabilities for iGaming operators, the companies said.

TMA said the enhanced integration adds deeper audience segmentation, including Optimove’s Target Group Discovery, to help operators build granular player profiles and activate engagement based on player behaviour and preferences.

The update also connects Optimove directly to TMA’s proprietary bonus engine, which TMA said allows operators to trigger and distribute personalised rewards within CRM journeys. Messaging can be orchestrated through Optimove across email, SMS, web and mobile push notifications, as well as inbox messaging.

Bjørnar Heggernes, CCO at The Mill Adventure, said: “We are focused on equipping operators with the right tools they need to deliver meaningful, data-driven engagement at scale. This enhanced integration with Optimove strengthens our ability to support highly personalised player journeys, combining powerful segmentation, real-time communication and seamless reward execution within a unified platform.

“By bringing these capabilities together, we are helping our partners simplify their operations while delivering richer, more relevant experiences that drive long-term value.”

Adi Dagan, Senior Director of Partnership at Optimove, said: “The Mill Adventure’s iGaming operators benefit from its scalable and automated tools for optimising their casino suite. With this integration, The Mill Adventure operators can use real-time data, advanced segmentation and multichannel orchestration to deliver more relevant player experiences and act on them faster.

“Our partnership with The Mill Adventure represents a significant step forward in enabling operators to execute smarter, more effective CRM strategies. We are excited to support TMA’s continued growth as they empower operators to build deeper, more meaningful relationships with their players.”

The post The Mill Adventure deepens Optimove integration for player engagement appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.