UEFA demands 'heavy sanctions' for match-fixing

ASTANA, Kazakhstan - Agence France-Presse

European football's governing body UEFA on Thursday unanimously adopted a resolution calling for "heavy sanctions" for those involved in match-fixing.
     
UEFA's 54 member associations, meeting in Astana adopted an 11-point resolution aiming to impose standard punishments across Europe.
      
UEFA has called for all countries to make 'sports fraud' a crime and for wider powers to impose life bans on players, referees and officials implicated in match-fixing.
      
"We are requesting that UEFA's member associations align themselves with UEFA - and have our full support - in order to tackle this scourge, which is a real threat to the soul of our sport," said UEFA president Michel Platini as the vote was taken.
      
The head of European football's governing body presented Alina Stetenco, who was coach of Moldova's under-17 women's team, whose whistleblower action led the dismantling of a fraud network.
      
Stetenco provided key information that helped lead to the life ban of a Moldovan offial for his attempt to fix a European Women's Under-17 Championship match last August.
      
"Alina has said no," Platini said.
      
"She has said no to match-fixing, no to intimidation and no to corruption in football. She stood up for what she believed in and that is why she deserved a standing ovation today. She has set the example we need to follow."