query: Is match fixing illegal?
passage: Match fixing
In organized sports, match fixing occurs as a match is played to a completely or partially pre-determined result, violating the rules of the game and often the law. The most common reason is to obtain a payoff from gamblers, but teams may also intentionally perform poorly to gain a future advantage, such as a better draft pick[upper-alpha 1] or, on paper, a less eminent opponent in a play-off.[upper-alpha 2] A player might also play poorly to rig a handicap system.[1]
passage: Match fixing in association football
In May 2011, world governing body FIFA announced an anti-match fixing plan, and in September 2012 FIFA President Sepp Blatter warned that match-fixing endangered "the integrity of the game." In September 2014 the Council of Europe also announced they would tackle the problem.