Alfredo Lorenzo: "LaLiga is working hard to keep match-fixing out of the competition"

Alfredo Lorenzo, La Liga's director of integrity and security, Jose Santiago Sanchez, the general commissioner of the Criminal Investigation Department, and Cecilia Pastor, the director general of gaming regulation, were given the task of opening the Conference on Match-Fixing and Corruption in Sport held today, Tuesday, at the Canillas Police Complex in Madrid. The event, which looked at the threats to sporting competitions and possible solutions for improving them, was attended by a significant number of members of the National Police. 

LaLiga's director of integrity, who gave one of the opening speeches on behalf of LaLiga's president, Javier Tebas, underscored the importance of ensuring that sport remains clean. "There are cases in the press on a daily basis that affect the integrity of sport, such as cases of doping or the police operation three days ago in Portugal when 15 football professionals were arrested for participating in betting. The phenomenon is real and LaLiga is working hard to keep match-fixing, corruption and threats out of the competition. Our objective is for nothing to affect the results of the sport." 

During his speech, Alfredo Lorenzo pointed to the important contribution which LaLiga has made to the Spanish economy and why this means that threats to its operations affect everyone. "For LaLiga, which represents part of Spanish football, integrity is a pillar of the competition. As a driver of the economy which currently contributes 0.7% of the GDP, with this estimated to reach 1% within three years, football is subject to many threats. One is a lack of integrity, both within the world of football and by those who seek to take advantage of its structure." 

Lorenzo stressed that "the work of LaLiga is not limited to the sphere of professional football. We want to contribute to all levels of Spanish football, because the threat does not distinguish between different levels or sports." "There are signs and allegations that it is an activity that is growing. It is gaining increasing infiltration in sport and collaboration between institutions is vital because this affects society as a whole," he added. 

In this regard, LaLiga's director of integrity and security reminded people that in order to be more effective against this threat, common efforts are required and involvement must come from all levels. "We have not yet been able to involve other sporting institutions in this fight and this is something that is fundamental. Neither the RFEF nor UEFA have taken decisive steps in the fight against collusion. As for FIFA, we are seeing a change in trend that gives us great hope," he assured. 

To conclude his speech, the director of integrity and security thanked the National Police Corps, the Directorate General of Gaming Regulation and the High Council for Sport on behalf of LaLiga and its president, Javier Tebas, "for their day-to-day commitment which upholds the fight against a threat that extends beyond sport."