Sweden confirms signing of the Macolin Convention  

Sweden has officially announced its decision to join the Macolin Convention, which is the Council of Europe’s agreement on the manipulation of sports competitions. The country had previously stated its intention to join the convention in October of the previous year, with multiple ministers showing their backing. The government has now announced that it will proceed with these plans. With this, Sweden becomes the 13th country in the European Union to ratify the Macolin Convention. Countries that have ratified so far include Belgium, France, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Lithuania, Norway, Portugal, Moldova, Spain, Switzerland, and Ukraine. Furthermore, 39 other European nations and three non-EU countries—Australia, Morocco, and Russia—have signed the convention. It serves as the sole international legal framework aimed at addressing match-fixing and sports manipulation. It establishes a framework for public authorities to collaborate with sports governing bodies, betting operators, and event organizers to prevent, detect, and tackle match-fixing through robust penalties. Sweden Intensifies Its Fight Against Match-Fixing. Social Affairs Minister Jakob Forssmed, who backed Sweden’s decision to join last year, expressed that the country’s participation will help in the fight against match-fixing and improve the integrity of sports. Jakob Forssmed, the Minister of Social Affairs, noted: Match-fixing poses a significant and growing risk in sports, occurring more frequently across different countries. By joining the Macolin Convention, Sweden gains complete access to enhanced international collaboration and information sharing. This is a significant and anticipated move to combat match-fixing and bolster integrity in sports. Niklas Wykman, the minister for financial markets, commented: