Vietnamese football matches have been listed for betting by 79 international bookmakers across the world, said Julie Norris, head of Interpol’s integrity in sport unit, at the conference on the prevention of match fixing held in Hanoi yesterday.

The conference had the participation of officials from Interpol, AFC, FIFA, and Vietnamese representatives from the ministries of public security, justice, finance, and sports.

Ms. Norris stressed at the meeting that criminal rings often back the manipulation of football games and they have the involvement of thousands of bookmakers across the world.

Nicholas Raudenski of the FIFA security unit added that the criminal rings can even ‘control’ and force referees and footballers to help manipulate matches.

Le Hoai Anh, general secretary of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), told the meeting that Vietnam has conducted effective cooperation with AFC and FIFA in the prevention of match fixing and detected several cases in recent years.

VFF is planning to set up an integrity unit to promote transparency and prevent wrongdoings in the coming time, he added.