A joint campaign between FIFA and United Nation Office on Drugs and Crime’s (UNODC) has been launched on International Anti-Corruption Day in a bid to encourage footballers to speak out against match-fixing.

The campaign, which also raises awareness of FIFA’s confidential reporting platforms, takes special importance against the backdrop of the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on football, and the subsequent economic uncertainty and the higher integrity risk faced by many players and clubs around the world.

The campaign aims to raise awareness amongst players, coaches and officials about the confidential platforms available to report approaches by suspected match-fixers and to encourage anyone in football who may have been approached to come forward.  

In the video shared across UNODC’s social channels, Sydney FC defender Luke Wilkshire encourages everyone in football to recognise, resist and report any approach to fix a match: 

“Football teaches us so many important lessons. Integrity and fair play – these are important values at the heart of football. As players we must speak up and we must speak out against match-fixing. Match-fixing has a devastating impact on football and has terrible consequences for players, as well as their families and loved ones. ‘

“Despite the many challenges football has faced because of the pandemic, it is important that we protect the game we love and speak out against match-fixing. If you are approached by a suspected match-fixer, please speak out and submit a confidential report to FIFA and its dedicated Integrity Department.’ 

“You can submit a confidential report in three ways: Firstly by visiting FIFA.com/bkms . Secondly, by downloading and submitting a report via the FIFA Integrity App. You can also submit a report via email to [email protected], which will be handled in the strictest confidence by FIFA’s Integrity experts. ‘

As players it is vital we speak up out against match-fixing. Recognise. Resist. Report. Speak out against match-fixing. Together, let’s keep football clean.”

The joint campaign features messages from a range of FIFA Legends, including Sun Wen, Iván Córdoba, Luke Wilkshire, Wael Gomaa, Stipe Pletikosa, Clémentine Touré and Bibiana Steinhaus, who encourage everyone in football to recognise, resist and report any approach to fix a match via FIFA’s confidential reporting platforms.