The SIU was established by ICSS in response to the growing demand for independent investigations and intelligence services within the sports industry. Sport Integrity Hotline, managed by the SIU and set up nearly a year ago, has been a vital tool in fighting corruption in sport. The hotline is accessible for all, from athletes to officials and the public, to report allegations of misconduct or abuse in sport.
The Clue platform will assist the SIU and its oversight of the Sport Integrity Hotline in managing risk, intelligence and investigation activities in a single application and so increase the unit’s efficiency and capacity for actionable intelligence on illicit activity in sport.
In a statement yesterday, ICSS chairman Mohammed bin Hanzab revealed that the hotline service has received more than 160 cases over the past period. He said it is clear that there are a number of games, including football, cricket and tennis, which are used as a transit gate for organised crime in sports such as smuggling of players – especially minors – suspicious activities related to stimulants, manipulation of match results, illegal betting, terrorism and money laundering.
Under the agreement, Clue will provide technical solutions to expand the SIU’s confidential information network and strengthen the investigative capabilities in the areas of violations of integrity in sport, as well as building strategic networks with Clue users, he added.
For his part, Clue Computing commercial director Thomas Drohan said that Clue is well placed to help the SIU manage their increasing volume of complex multi-faceted, cross border investigations. “Our software will help the SIU to build up actionable intelligence, uncover new lines of enquiry through data, collaborate with relevant authorities and ultimately stem the tide of increasing criminal activity associated with the
lucrative sports sector”.
He added that international organised crime operations do not limit themselves to specific sports or crime types. “They are dynamic and move quickly to exploit and profit from opportunities presented through sports including anything from match fixing, to doping, to human trafficking, to terrorism and more.
“The Clue system is used widely in sport, with eight major international sports now onboard and with more joining in the coming months. We see an opportunity to create a platform where sports can securely collaborate and share intelligence to better respond to the risks of criminal activity in sport as a whole,” he noted. (QNA)
