Last Wednesday, Congresswoman Susel Paredes Piqué presented a bill to incorporate the crime of manipulation of sports results into the Penal Code in order to guarantee transparency and fair play. This proposal seeks to punish athletes, coaches, referees, sports federations or other people who alter the result or course of a competition for the benefit of an entity or for themselves with a custodial sentence of no less than 3 nor more than 10 years. same.

"Whoever, directly or indirectly, promises, offers or gives an improper advantage to another person, for himself or for another person or entity, with the objective of improperly altering the result or course of a sports competition, will be punished with a penalty. deprivation of liberty not less than 3 nor more than 10 years," the letter reads.

Why is it sought to penalize the manipulation of sports results?

According to the document presented by the Democratic Change-Together for Peru parliamentary group, in recent years the sports betting market in the country has been increasing, especially in the sport of soccer. There are more than 6 million potential bettors in the market, according to a study cited.

This situation, the document explains, would enhance the possibility of committing illegal acts related to the manipulation of competitions and sports results.

How does the manipulation of results affect sport?

The manipulation of competitions puts both the integrity and credibility of the sport at risk. Likewise, this could cause significant damage to the reputation of associated organizations and sponsors of said discipline.

"The manipulation of competitions endangers the integrity and credibility of sport, and mainly football at all levels. This scourge offers the opportunity to organized crime to infiltrate to try to corrupt footballers, referees and officials, all with the aim of to manipulate matches and obtain huge profits from the betting market," the bill reads.