Sportradar Integrity Services, a unit of Sportradar, has released its annual Integrity in Action 2024 Global Analysis & Trends report, which states that match-fixing at all levels of global sport registered a notable decline in 2024.
Throughout 2024, Sportradar Integrity Services monitored more than 850,000 matches across 70 sports worldwide and 1,108 suspicious matches were identified, a 17% decrease from 2023. The highest number of suspicious matches were found across Europe, the region historically facing the most significant integrity issues.
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However, the year still ended with a 34% reduction in suspicious matches overall in this territory, with 439 matches identified compared to 668 in 2023. Africa also finished with a considerable decline with 69 suspicious matches detected, a 36% decrease from 108 matches the year before.
Notably, the world’s most popular sport, football, saw a considerable downturn, with 721 suspicious matches detected in 2024, a reduction of 18% from 881 matches in 2023. Moreover, Brazilian soccer, which has been affected by match-fixing cases in recent years, recorded a marked decrease of 48%, with 57 suspicious matches discovered last year, down from 110 in 2023. Nevertheless, despite the overall reduction in the number of suspicious matches detected, match-fixing remains a persistent issue worldwide.
Sportradar uses advanced data analytics and artificial intelligence through its Universal Fraud Detection System to monitor competitions and identify irregular betting patterns. While AI flags unusual activity, such as substantial wagers on unlikely outcomes, Sportradar’s team of integrity experts is crucial in confirming match-fixing activities for further investigation.
