Swedish gambling regulator’s anti-matchfixing coordinator to chair Group of Copenhagen
Samuel Wahlberg will chair the network of national platforms as it seeks to maintain the momentum of the Macolin Convention.
Sweden.- The Swedish gambling regulator Spelinspektionen has announced that Samuel Wahlberg, its coordinator against match-fixing, has been elected as chairman of the Group of Copenhagen.
The Group of Copenhagen is a network of national platforms and an international advisory body to the Follow-up Committee of the Macolin Convention under the Council of Europe. It connects countries’ national bodies responsible for fighting corruption in sports, sharing best practices, providing support, and developing joint initiatives in a bid to facilitate cooperation to combat sports competition manipulation.
The latest meeting was attended by representatives from 31 countries’ national platforms.
The Macolin Convention is the only international legal framework on match-fixing and manipulation of sports competitions. It provides a common legal framework for international cooperation. Spelinspektionen said that Sweden will have access to more cooperation structures, systems and information to combat match-fixing.
“I am grateful for the group’s support. As chair, I want to continue to keep the momentum of the Convention up by promoting ratifications, helping to establish more national platforms and broadening the geographical reach,” Wahlberg said.
The Swedish Gambling Authority’s acting Director General, Johan Röhr, sees the appointment as a positive step after Sweden signed the Macolin Convention in 2024.
“It is gratifying that Samuel has been elected chairman of the Group of Copenhagen. We believe it provides good opportunities to continue developing and strengthening international cooperation against match-fixing,” says Johan.
The Advisory Group operates under the authority of the Follow-up Committee and in close cooperation with the Council of Europe Secretariat. Its main tasks include the formulation and development of proposals to strengthen the governance and operational capacity of National Platforms as well as the broader Macolin community.
The group is coordinated by the Advisory Group Bureau and works through plenary meetings. The Bureau comprises the Chair, Vice-Chair and five other elected members representing public authorities with a two-year mandate. They meet at least four times a year.
