The organization disclosed that 55 fixed matches were played in Russia during 2023, signaling ongoing concerns about integrity in the sport and prompting a deeper review by investigators focused on suspicious game activity and betting patterns in that region.
Expert group analyses indicate that 90 fixed games were recorded in Russia in 2022, a figure that underscores a sharp rise in match manipulation year over year. This upward trajectory highlights the ongoing battle to protect competitive fairness and the reliability of football results in the country, where regulators and governing bodies have intensified scrutiny and expanded monitoring to deter improper influence on outcomes.
In 2023, the company identified 109 match-fixing cases, with Brazil emerging as a leading country in reported incidents. By year-end, the cumulative estimate suggested that as many as 880 dishonest matches could have occurred across professional football, a scope that alarms leagues, clubs, sponsors, and fans who demand transparency, accountability, and credible competition at every level.
Reflecting on governance actions, the spring 2022 decisions by the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) to suspend Russia’s national squad and all Russian clubs from events under their control marked a pivotal shift. The sanctions disrupted participation in major tournaments and series, creating lasting implications for development programs, player exposure, and the broader football ecosystem in the country as it navigates a pathway back to international competition.
Looking ahead, the consequences for Russian football include missing the 2022 World Cup play-offs and the European Championship’s subsequent cycles. Stakeholders across federations, clubs, and fans continue to monitor reforms, governance improvements, and the integrity measures being put in place to restore confidence in results, ensure fair play, and rebuild the sport’s standing on the global stage.