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UEFA and Europol have renewed and expanded their partnership to step up the fight against crime in European football, signing a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon on Thursday.
The agreement, signed by UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin and Europol Executive Director Catherine De Bolle, deepens the organisations’ cooperation on safeguarding the integrity of the game and confronting emerging threats linked to organised crime.
Building on years of collaboration, particularly in the battle against match-fixing, the updated MoU broadens the scope of joint work to include combating money laundering, sports corruption, online piracy, and illegal streaming. It also covers the detection of suspicious financial activities linked to player transfers, club investments, sports betting, and the organisation of competitions.
Under the new terms, UEFA and Europol will share information, expertise, and resources, as well as coordinate on investigations and preventive initiatives. Europol will also provide expert advice to UEFA and its 55 national member associations.
“As the governing authority for European football we collaborate closely with European institutions and agencies, including Europol, to safeguard the integrity, credibility and long-term sustainability of the game at every level,” Čeferin said. “Through our partnership with Europol, we remain committed to enhancing our coordinated actions to prevent and tackle the criminal exploitation of our sport.”
De Bolle praised the cooperation, emphasising both football’s social importance and its vulnerability to criminal activity.
“Football provides a universal language that transcends borders,” she said. “At the same time, we have to note the criminal abuse of this wonderful sport. Europol stands ready to support UEFA and all competent national authorities in safeguarding the integrity of this beautiful game.”
During her visit, De Bolle also met members of UEFA’s Governance and Compliance Committee and Stadium and Security Committee, where she discussed many of the issues covered under the new agreement.
UEFA reiterated its zero-tolerance policy towards match-fixing and organised crime, noting its 2021 action plan to strengthen investigative efforts and expand its internal integrity unit. The governing body also reaffirmed its commitment to fighting online piracy and supporting new EU anti-money laundering regulations in football.
Europol, headquartered in The Hague, works with EU Member States and partner countries to combat serious and organised international crime, providing intelligence and operational support to national law enforcement agencies.
Featured Image Credit: uefa.com
