<p>Chris Eaton, who is responsible for overseeing world football's attempts to tackle corruption, told The Independent he suspected criminals enticed players with contracts before ordering them to rig results.<br /><br />"It is a form of trafficking, in my view - trafficking for criminal purposes," Eaton was quoted as saying. "There are examples of players who have been abandoned because they did not perform.<br /><br />"It is only anecdotal evidence at this stage but it is clear. They (match-fixers) often target people from humble origins.<br /><br />"They will go to junior competitions and recruit families of players basically through the attraction of cash. 'I can get you a contract, or a game in Europe or in South America.'<br />"They will invest in the development of players and officials and then they expect payment -- they want their cut."<br /><br />Eaton was speaking following the conclusion of a trial in Finland this week which saw a Singaporean national sentenced to prison for match-fixing in the country's premier football league.<br /><br />Wilson Raj Perumal was sentenced by a court in Rovaniemi, the regional capital of Lapland, to two years in prison and damages of 150,000 euros (213,000 dollars) for masterminding match-fixing with the help of nine former football players for Rovaniemi football club RoPS. <br /><br />The players -- seven Zambians and two Georgians -- were convicted of suspended sentences ranging from six months to one year and eight months, and damages totalling more than 200,000 euros.<br /><br />Eaton, a former Interpol officer, said FIFA was studying a range of measures to try and tackle match-fixing.<br /><br />These included briefing players at under-17 and under-20, considered to be among the most vulnerable, prior to FIFA competitions.<br /><br />"These people are criminals, they are organised," said Eaton.<br />"They are well funded and have a long-term plan. They are a real and present danger to the sanctity and ethics of sport. I would not understate its seriousness." <br /><br />The players -- seven Zambians and two Georgians -- were convicted of suspended sentences ranging from six months to one year and eight months, and damages totalling more than 200,000 euros.<br /><br />Eaton, a former Interpol officer, said FIFA was studying a range of measures to try and tackle match-fixing.<br /><br />These included briefing players at under-17 and under-20, considered to be among the most vulnerable, prior to FIFA competitions.<br /><br />"These people are criminals, they are organised," said Eaton.<br />"They are well funded and have a long-term plan. They are a real and present danger to the sanctity and ethics of sport. I would not understate its seriousness."</p>
<p>Chris Eaton, who is responsible for overseeing world football's attempts to tackle corruption, told The Independent he suspected criminals enticed players with contracts before ordering them to rig results.<br /><br />"It is a form of trafficking, in my view - trafficking for criminal purposes," Eaton was quoted as saying. "There are examples of players who have been abandoned because they did not perform.<br /><br />"It is only anecdotal evidence at this stage but it is clear. They (match-fixers) often target people from humble origins.<br /><br />"They will go to junior competitions and recruit families of players basically through the attraction of cash. 'I can get you a contract, or a game in Europe or in South America.'<br />"They will invest in the development of players and officials and then they expect payment -- they want their cut."<br /><br />Eaton was speaking following the conclusion of a trial in Finland this week which saw a Singaporean national sentenced to prison for match-fixing in the country's premier football league.<br /><br />Wilson Raj Perumal was sentenced by a court in Rovaniemi, the regional capital of Lapland, to two years in prison and damages of 150,000 euros (213,000 dollars) for masterminding match-fixing with the help of nine former football players for Rovaniemi football club RoPS. <br /><br />The players -- seven Zambians and two Georgians -- were convicted of suspended sentences ranging from six months to one year and eight months, and damages totalling more than 200,000 euros.<br /><br />Eaton, a former Interpol officer, said FIFA was studying a range of measures to try and tackle match-fixing.<br /><br />These included briefing players at under-17 and under-20, considered to be among the most vulnerable, prior to FIFA competitions.<br /><br />"These people are criminals, they are organised," said Eaton.<br />"They are well funded and have a long-term plan. They are a real and present danger to the sanctity and ethics of sport. I would not understate its seriousness." <br /><br />The players -- seven Zambians and two Georgians -- were convicted of suspended sentences ranging from six months to one year and eight months, and damages totalling more than 200,000 euros.<br /><br />Eaton, a former Interpol officer, said FIFA was studying a range of measures to try and tackle match-fixing.<br /><br />These included briefing players at under-17 and under-20, considered to be among the most vulnerable, prior to FIFA competitions.<br /><br />"These people are criminals, they are organised," said Eaton.<br />"They are well funded and have a long-term plan. They are a real and present danger to the sanctity and ethics of sport. I would not understate its seriousness."</p>