Sport24.az
The AFFA Compliance and Anti-Match-Fixing Department organized an awareness session for regional referees. According to Sport24.az, during the session, Naib Asadov, the head of the Compliance and Anti-Match-Fixing Department, and also UEFA's responsible representative for the integrity of matches, and Murad Mammadli, the leading specialist of the department, provided the referees with detailed information about the concept of match-fixing, the differences between ordinary referee decisions and deliberately manipulated decisions during the game, as well as the serious damage that such cases cause to the integrity and reputation of football.
The trainers made a comprehensive presentation on the crucial role of referees in the game process and the importance of protecting it from any external influence. It was stated that referee decisions are considered one of the most sensitive moments in the context of match-fixing, and therefore, the professional behavior of referees always requires high supervision and responsibility.
During the session, it was emphasized that referees are not only the parties who manage the game, but also the main guarantors of the principles of fairness and integrity of football. It was stated that objectivity, principle, impartiality and high professional ethics are an integral part of refereeing, and the preservation of these principles is crucial for the credibility of football. The main motives of match-fixing, in which games manipulation cases occur more often, the role of sports betting in this process and possible methods of influencing referees were explained through the presentation.
At the same time, the ethical duty of referees, the steps they should take when faced with a suspicious or match-fixing offer, the necessity of reporting such cases in a timely and correct manner, as well as the serious consequences of concealing information were discussed based on practical situations. Special attention was paid to approaches made through social media, the tools used by manipulators, and the importance of properly managing referees' public and personal profiles.
During the session, the relevant articles of the AFFA Disciplinary Code adopted in 2025 were brought to the attention of the referees, it was emphasized that participation in match-fixing, attempts to do so, or concealment of information is considered a serious disciplinary violation, and specific examples from local and international practice were presented.
The main purpose of the awareness-raising event is to protect transparency and integrity in the football community, strengthen the fight against match-fixing and further increase the level of responsibility and awareness of referees in this area.
