FIFA Head of Security Chris Eaton to join ICSS

FIFA Head of Security Chris Eaton will join the International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) as the organisation’s Director of Sport Integrity in May 2012. FIFA will appoint in the coming weeks a replacement for Eaton, who will work together with his successor over the next few months to ensure a seamless transition and hand over the various ongoing investigations. Needless to say, FIFA remains fully committed to the fight against match-fixing, an area where it has undertaken pioneering work. FIFA has put in place various measures to combat match-fixing in football, including the launch of the early warning system (used for the first time at the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ and also by other organisations, such as the IOC for the 2008 Olympic Games), a ten-year cooperation agreement with Interpol, setting up regional offices across the globe and many other initiatives. “I am sad to be leaving FIFA, but I am pleased to take with me an experience and knowledge that only FIFA within the current environment can provide,” said Eaton. "I am taking a new challenge that will encompass all sports, many of which could learn from FIFA’s approach to combatting match-fixing." In his new role, Chris Eaton will work closely with international sporting bodies, governments, agencies and academic institutions to assist them in the development of cross-sport platforms and solutions to tackle the incursion of criminals into both international sports and gambling. Mohammed Hanzab, President of the ICSS, said: “The ICSS is committed to assisting sporting organisations and those involved in regulating sporting contests to develop solutions to the security challenges they face. This includes sports results manipulation. We are delighted that Mr Eaton, who has been at the forefront of the fight against international match-fixing and related corruption in football, has decided to join the ICSS to help us build knowledge and share best practice in this critical area.”