term investments in match-fixing, purchasing clubs and organizing referee training camps as part of their infiltration of soccer, FIFA's security chief told Reuters in an interview. Chris Eaton said that, as part of its response, FIFA wanted to provide witness protection for players who came forward when they were approached by match-fixers and would consider rehabilitation for those corrupted at a young age. It would also set up a hotline open to anyone to provide information on suspicious behavior. “We want to manipulate the manipulators and intimidate the intimidators; they have to realize that we are serious and FIFA is going to protect its people, its sport against these people who have no conscience at all,” he said. “Infiltration is a strong word but my assessment is that organized criminality has infiltrated at several levels of football for the precise purpose of making money from the enormous amount of gambling income which is now being generated.” Buying clubs was a way for organized groups to control the results of matches, warned Eaton, who worked at Interpol for more than 12 years before joining FIFA. “We're seeing a trend for the purchase of low-level clubs and the movement of players and the trafficking of players,” he said, adding that this happened mainly in “less wealthy” countries. “There is a significant trend in the trafficking of players, moving them into other leagues with a mentor, normally a player who comes from the same country or region, has a great deal of respect, is more than likely corrupted, who is able to influence these players. “We're seeing referees' development schools and player development schools, some of which are clearly a front for criminals. They are investing long-term in the compromise of these players. “They (development camps) are often endorsed by a federation and perhaps the federation doesn't realize who is behind the operation.” Match-fixing, usually by illegal gambling rings, has become a major problem for soccer in the last few years. In one recent case in Finland, Wilson Raj Perumal, a Singaporean national, was jailed for two years while nine players — seven Zambians and two Georgians — were given suspended sentences for trying to fix matches. Perumal paid players up to 20,000 euros ($28,290) per match and received up to 50,000 euros, in addition to some of the betting profits, each time the results of the Rovaniemi team were fixed. Eaton said the approaches to players or referees would often begin with a gift. Eaton added that not all attempts to fix games were successful.
