The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is bringing together experts to address issues seen to be threatening the integrity of sport. The 13-member panel will be chaired by the Chief Executive of Liverpool Football Club, Rick Parry, and include representatives from the betting industry, police, players, fans, sports governing bodies, the legal profession and the Gambling Commission.

Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe said, “I am delighted that Rick Parry has agreed to lead this vitally important work. His expertise in the nation’s most high profile sport, along with that of the other panel members, will give this project the impetus it needs to tackle sports betting corruption head-on. “We cannot be complacent and need to act now to prevent this becoming a real threat to the integrity of sport. There are some complex issues involved and this is by no means an easy task, but I have great confidence in the panel and I look forward to hearing the recommendations.”

The current rules on sports betting will be assessed to ensure they are as robust as possible, ensuring better communications between those involved in tackling sports betting corruption, as well as the education of sportsmen and women on the issue. The panel will be asked to examine the scale of the current risk to sports’ integrity through betting corruption, including how suspicious betting patterns are identified and assessed, in markets within and outside the UK. Gerry Sutcliffe has asked for a report within six months with a clear set of recommendations to help uphold integrity in sports and associated betting

Panel members are: Rick Parry, Chief Executive of Liverpool FC (Chair); Darren Bailey, Director of Football Governance and Regulation at the Football Association; Simon Barker, Director of the Professional Players Federation and ex-professional footballer; Dave Boyle, Chief Executive, Supporters Direct; Nic Coward, Chief Executive of the British Horseracing Authority; Chris Caisley, Head of Sports Law Group and Partner at Walker Morris; Mark Davies, Managing Director of Betfair; Ben Gunn CBE, QPM, sport integrity expert; Mike O’Kane, Group Trading Director, Ladbrokes; Ian Seabridge, Assistant Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police and ACPO lead on Gambling; Mike Smith, Chairman, Tote; Bill South, Director of Security, William Hill; and Nick Tofiluk, Director of Regulation, Gambling Commission.

Gambling Commission Chairman Brian Pomeroy said: “I want to welcome Rick Parry and the other members of the expert panel and look forward to sharing with them the benefit of our expertise on betting integrity in the British market. I support this initiative strongly which brings together those whose work keeps British sport free of corruption. By acting in concert against the threat to integrity, the betting industry, sports bodies, players and their representatives, police forces, the Gambling Commission and others can achieve much more than any of us alone." (E-06.25.09)

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