Athletes' Perceptions and Knowledge About Match Fixing: An Investigation in Six European Countries

Match fixing has been acknowledged as a major threat to the integrity of sports. The aim of the present study was to measure athletes’ experiences, perceptions and knowledge about match fixing. The sample consisted of 386 team sport athletes from six European countries (Mage = 21.21 years, SD = 5.15). The results indicated that a large proportion of the participants reported experiences of match fixing. In addition, biased responding was observed when participants asked to evaluate the prevalence and acceptance of match fixing in their own clubs and other clubs. Education and support for whistleblowing were suggested as the main means to prevent match fixing. The study’s findings provide policymakers with valuable information for the development of appropriate prevention efforts against match fixing.