Spelinspektionen Member to Chair Group of Copenhagen

Sweden’s gambling regulator, Spelinspektionen (Swedish Gambling Authority/SGA), announced that its match-fixing coordinator, Samuel Wahlberg, has been named chair of the Group of Copenhagen, an anti-match-fixing body.

Wahlberg Named Chair of Group of Copenhagen

Wahlberg, who’s a longtime expert on match-fixing, has been elected as the new chairman of the Group of Copenhagen, according to the Spelinspektionen’s official announcement. As such, his involvement in combating match-fixing will deepen, reinforcing the group’s capabilities to counter fraud in professional sports.

Wahlberg commented on his appointment as the Group of Copenhagen’s new chairman, saying that he is grateful for its support and trust. He vowed to leverage his new position to keep the momentum of the Macolin Convention. To that end, he will encourage the creation of more national platforms against match-fixing and the overall broadening of the convention’s geographical reach.

Johan Röhr, deputy general of the Spelionspektionen, also weighed in on Wahlberg’s appointment, calling it a positive step for Sweden as a whole. He said:

We believe it [Wahlberg’s appointment as chair of the Group of Copenhagen] provides good opportunities to continue to develop and strengthen international cooperation against match-fixing.

Johan Röhr, deputy general, Spelionspektionen

Sweden Remains Committed to Opposing Match-Fixing

Group of Copenhagen is a body uniting national platforms against match-fixing in professional sports. Its last meeting was attended by representatives of some 31 countries.

The group also serves as the monitoring committee for the Council of Europe Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions, also known as the Macolin Convention.

For reference, the Macolin Convention is the only international legal framework seeking to address match-fixing and the manipulation of professional sporting events. Its objective is to create a common framework for cooperation, allowing various authorities to join forces in the war on fraud in sports.

The Macolin Convention has played a key role in allowing Sweden to counter match-fixing and shield its sports sector from financial crime. Sweden signed the convention in 2024, reaffirming its commitment to tackling fraud in professional sports.