Sportradar reports an increase in match-fixing across Asia, particularly in lower football leagues, with 52% of suspicious matches coming from lower tiers. The rise is attributed to criminal activities involving bribery of players and officials. However, the firm notes that AI technology is playing a significant role in detecting matches at risk of manipulation.
Sportradar, a firm monitoring suspicious betting for the Hong Kong Football Association, has reported a rise in match-fixing incidents in Asia, particularly impacting lower-tier leagues. The analysis indicates that criminal organizations are increasingly bribing players, officials, and coaches to manipulate outcomes in these vulnerable competitions.
In its monitoring, Sportradar found that Asia ranks second globally for suspicious matches, trailing only Europe, with football being the most impacted sport. A significant majority, 52%, of suspicious football matches originate from lower divisions, including third-tier leagues and youth competitions.
The company’s report on betting integrity for 2022 highlights a substantial increase in match manipulation activity, especially in regions where offenders have experienced prior success. To combat this trend, Sportradar emphasizes the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in enhancing the detection of competition manipulation, which may provide a crucial tool in addressing the escalating issue of match-fixing across the continent.
Original Source: www.scmp.com
