Football Federation Australia CEO, David Gallop has vowed to make sure performance enhancing drugs and match-fixing both stay out of football in Australia.
Today in Canberra, Football Federation Australia (FFA), along with other major Australian sporting codes, was given a briefing on an Australian Crime Commission (ACC) investigation into integrity issues in Australian sport.
The investigation uncovered serious issues around doping, corruption and organised crime links.
While the report found no specific allegations about Australian footballers or Hyundai A-League matches, the ACC investigation makes it clear that there is a risk to the integrity of football.
FFA is committed to a collective response along with the other professional sports under the COMPPS banner and to support initiatives announced today by the Federal Government.
“There is nothing specific in relation to football in relation to this report but that doesn-t mean we don-t join in the general concern about the issues that are raised in the report,” said FFA CEO David Gallop.
“We must maintain vigilance in education, in making sure that players are aware of penalties that can be imposed and you-d be aware we have recently engaged an overseas agency to assist us with surveillance of football matches.
“It-s simple to make the point but it-s a good one where things are difficult to detect. The level of deterrence must be high and that-s what we are dealing with here both in relation to the doping issue and match fixing.
“We are vigilant about it, we have internal and external resources in place and we don-t specifically have evidence at this stage, but we join in the general concern and we are all too happy to be supporting the government and the ACC.”
For further details on the COMPPS response visit click here
