Ahead of the season start, all players and staff in the 32 clubs of Allsvenskan and Superettan have completed two different training programs: one in anti-match-fixing and one in responsible gambling. The training programs have been developed by Swedish Professional Football Leagues in collaboration with the top-flight football’s main partner, Unibet.
“The training helps provide a deeper understanding of the mechanisms and rules around match-fixing, but also how to set personal boundaries when it comes to gambling,” says Anders Wikström, Integrity Officer at Swedish Professional Football Leagues.
These digital training sessions are conducted annually and are part of the proactive integrity work being done within Swedish elite football. Each club’s designated Integrity Officer—an appointed role as part of the partnership between Swedish Professional Football Leagues and Unibet—is responsible for ensuring the training is carried out.
In terms of responsible gambling, Swedish Professional Football Leagues collaborates not only with Unibet and Spelfriheten but also with the Swedish Football Association (SvFF), the Swedish Sports Confederation (RF), and the police. The responsible gambling training is part of a broader effort to combat match-fixing and prevent gambling problems among players and staff.
When it comes to anti-match-fixing, Swedish Professional Football Leagues also works closely with SvFF, RF, and the police. This part of the training aims to give a deeper understanding of how match-fixing works and what warning signs players or staff should look out for to combat and prevent the issue.
“Even if it’s a repetition for some, we see only benefits in requiring this training before every new season. We’re very encouraged to see a clear decrease in the number of suspected matches—a good trend. However, there’s no reason to relax on this issue, as the threat remains. Education is an important kind of ‘vaccine,’” says Anders Wikström.
Fact – Integrity Officer: The role of Integrity Officer is part of the partnership between Swedish Professional Football Leagues and Unibet. It is a key position for safeguarding the integrity of elite football in matters of responsible gambling and match-fixing. Each individual top-tier men’s club has an Integrity Officer within its organization. This person, often the club’s sporting director, acts as the link between the club, its players, and the league on these matters. Every Integrity Officer has received specific training tailored to their responsibilities.
