Manipulasi Pertandingan Olahraga sebagai Transnational Organized Crime (Studi Kasus: Peran Grigor Sargysan Dalam Sindikat Manipulasi Pertandingan Olahraga Tenis)

Abstract

Sport has evolved from a local hobby into a global phenomenon. The internationalization of sport has become increasingly evident, driven by globalization, technology, economic interests, and cultural exchange. This internationalization has further led to the establishment of federations to safeguard the integrity of sports. One of the major threats to sports integrity is match-fixing. One of the largest match-fixing schemes was orchestrated by a syndicate led by Grigor Sargsyan, whose operations were transnational in nature and involved recruiting over a hundred players from five different continents. This research focuses on three key issues: First, what factors contribute to match-fixing in sports? Second, what international legal instruments can be employed to combat match-fixing as a form of transnational organized crime? Third, what are the characteristics, modus operandi, and legal liabilities of the match-fixing syndicate led by Grigor Sargsyan, and what sporting sanctions are imposed on athletes implicated in match-fixing? This study adopts a normative legal research method with qualitative analysis. The findings reveal that the factors driving match-fixing include the expansion of the sports betting market, increased accessibility of technology, weak governance in sports federations, and low athlete salaries in lower-tier leagues. The applicable international legal instruments are the United Nations Convention against Corruption, the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, the Council of Europe Macolin Convention, the Olympic Movement Code on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions, and the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Regarding the characteristics, modus operandi, and legal liabilities, Grigor Sargsyan led a transnational match-fixing syndicate by infiltrating athlete communities, bribing players, and exploiting illegal betting, resulting in a five-year prison sentence in Belgium. Athletes involved are subject to sanctions from the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), such as fines or suspensions, but criminal penalties depend on national jurisdictions, as not all countries criminalize match-fixing.