TOKYO: A joint FIFA, FIFPro and Interpol campaign to fight match fixing has been launched at the players’ union congress here.

The aim of the campaign is to raise awareness of the dangers of match manipulation, to provide positive role models for players, and to educate them – and all other members of the football family – on how to recognise, resist and report any attempts to manipulate matches.

To kick off the campaign, the three organisations are distributing a DVD produced by Interpol to give players the knowledge they need to help fight fixing and ensure they understand it.

FIFPro secretary-general Theo van Seggelen said: “This marks the start of a coordinated approach of three global organisations in their fight against match-fixing.

“We all have initiated significant initiatives in the past. By concentrating our resources, we can take our efforts to protect the integrity of the game and its actors to a new level. With this DVD, we aim to provide a much-needed boost to the debate on how to tackle and report match-fixing.”

FIFA’s Jérôme Valcke said: “By the time any investigation into alleged match-fixing begins, the damage has already been done. This is why it is essential that the first line of defence – the players and others who control what happens on the pitch – is strengthened.”

The DVD features stars such as Frank Lampard, Sone Aluko and Kolo Touré, and two players who have been approached by match-fixers. The 15-minute video will be used to develop new integrity training programmes, but could also be incorporated into existing programmes delivered through the member associations and player unions.

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