The Deutsche Fußball Liga (DFL) has extended its engagement with Sportradar Integrity Services to protect against match fixing and betting-related corruption.
The partnership means Sportradar will continue to monitor all of the DFL’s competitive matches, including all Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga matches and the relegation play-offs between the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga; and 2. Bundesliga and 3. Liga (the third division in German football) for the next two years. The deal also covers the Supercup (the one-off match featuring the Bundesliga champions and the winners of the DFB-Pokal) and friendlies between Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga teams in Germany and abroad.
Earlier this week the German Football Association (DFB) signed a separate integrity monitoring agreement with Genius Sports which also incorporated Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga games. This effectively means these divisions now have double monitoring of all betting activity. While neither party is obliged to have a separate integrity monitoring programme, SportBusiness understands DFB and DFL prefer to have standalone agreements rather than depend on the other party to do the job. DFB’s contract with Genius also includes German internationals and women’s and youth team fixtures.
In its work for the DFL, Sportradar uses its Fraud Detection System (FDS) which entails systematic and continuous monitoring, detection, documentation and tracking of betting manipulation in the global betting market. This system has also been used by Uefa, AFC and Fifa for several years and has been recognised in several CAS procedures.
In addition to monitoring the betting market, Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga clubs have been trained in the prevention of match fixing since the 2018-19 season. The training is mandatory and proof of annual participation is a condition for clubs to retain their licenses. Clubs have been obliged to take appropriate preventative measures in their U16 to U23 age groups at their academies since the 2014-15 season.
Players, trainers and officials at the clubs are prohibited from placing bets, which is enshrined in the Legal Code and Rules of Procedure of the DFB. This prohibition is part of the standard employment contract in the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga. Players are also invited to submit match-fixing tip-offs through a “DFL Integrity App”.
