Sports

FIFA urges governments to support fight against match-fixing, says criminals walk free

Associated Press
Published | Updated

FIFA's security director Ralf Mutschke speaks during an interview at an Interpol conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013. Mutschke has warned that the fight against match-fixing will ultimately fail without the full support of governments across the world. Mutschke said Wednesday he hopes a Singaporean businessman accused of heading a crime syndicate that made millions by betting on rigged Italian games will be brought to face the courts with the help of Singaporean authorities. (AP Photo/Lai Seng Sin) (The Associated Press)

FIFA's security director Ralf Mutschke speaks during an interview at an Interpol conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013. Mutschke has warned that the fight against match-fixing will ultimately fail without the full support of governments across the world. Mutschke said Wednesday he hopes a Singaporean businessman accused of heading a crime syndicate that made millions by betting on rigged Italian games will be brought to face the courts with the help of Singaporean authorities. (AP Photo/Lai Seng Sin) (The Associated Press)

FIFA's head of security on Wednesday said that the fight against match-fixing will ultimately flounder without the full support of governments across the world.

Ralf Mutschke said he hopes a Singaporean businessman accused of heading a crime syndicate that made millions by betting on rigged Italian games will be brought to face the courts with the help of Singaporean authorities.

Mutschke, speaking at a conference in Malaysia co-hosted by Interpol and the Asian Football Confederation to discuss match-fixing, said referees and players are being banned for life for corruption, but the masterminds of the crimes still walk free because of legislative weaknesses.