Global efforts to combat match-fixing recorded meaningful progress in 2025, with a decline in suspicious sporting events worldwide. The findings were published in Sportradar’s latest report, Integrity in Action 2025: Global Analysis & Trends, highlighting improved detection, prevention, and enforcement across global sport.
Sportradar monitored more than one million sporting events across over 70 sports disciplines during the year. Of these, 1,116 events were flagged for potential irregularities, representing a 1% decrease compared to 2024. The data shows that more than 99.5% of all monitored events showed no signs of suspicious activity.
Europe and South America Lead Regional Improvements
Europe continued to record the highest number of suspicious matches in absolute terms. However, the region also showed continued improvement, with 66 fewer alerts than in 2024.
South America also posted notable progress, reporting 64 fewer suspicious matches year-on-year. In contrast, Asia, Africa, and North and Central America recorded increases in alerts, reflecting shifting regional risk patterns.
Football Remains Most Affected Sport
Football once again topped the list of sports with match-fixing indicators, with 618 matches flagged in 2025. Basketball followed with 233 suspicious games.
Other sports also recorded higher levels of alerts, including:
- Tennis: 78 matches
- Table tennis: 65 matches
- Cricket: 59 matches
These figures underline that match manipulation is no longer concentrated in a single sport, but continues to affect a broad range of disciplines.
AI Technology Strengthens Detection Capabilities
A major development in 2025 was the expanded use of Sportradar’s Universal Fraud Detection System (UFDS AI). The AI-driven platform applies machine learning to real-time data to identify irregular betting and performance patterns.
As a result, matches identified through AI tools increased by 56% year-on-year, demonstrating the growing role of advanced technology in uncovering emerging manipulation methods.
Sanctions, Education, and Prevention Efforts
Beyond detection, enforcement remained a key pillar of integrity protection. In 2025, Sportradar supported 125 sporting sanctions, bringing its historical total to more than 1,000 sanctions worldwide.
Preventive education also expanded significantly. Sportradar’s Integrity Education programs reached over 34,000 participants, marking a 25% increase compared to 2024.
Commenting on the report, Andreas Krannich, Executive Vice President of Integrity Services at Sportradar, said:
“This relative stability in the number of matches with signs of manipulation in 2025 is certainly a positive trend, but also reinforces the need for continued vigilant monitoring. Match-fixing is still a constantly evolving threat, and investment is necessary to stay one step ahead of those who seek to corrupt sport.”
Protecting Major Global Sporting Events
In 2025, Sportradar delivered integrity services for major international competitions, including FIFA’s expanded Club World Cup and the UEFA Women’s Euro.
Looking ahead to 2026, the company plans to support integrity operations for major events such as the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia, the FIFA World Cup in North America, and the Winter Olympic Games in Italy.
About Sportradar
Founded in 2001, Sportradar Group AG is a global sports technology company operating at the intersection of sports, media, and betting. The company provides integrity, data, and technology solutions to leading organizations including ATP, NBA, NHL, MLB, UEFA, FIFA, CONMEBOL, AFC, CBF, and the Bundesliga, and monitors over one million sporting events annually through its Integrity Services division.
