Melbourne’s Victoria Uni lands FIFA contract to develop world-first anti-match fixing technology

FIFA has hand-picked researchers at a Melbourne university to develop world-first technology that may help catch match-fixing athletes red-handed.

FIFA has engaged Melbourne’s Victoria University to develop a world-first technology they hope with stamp out match fixing. Picture: AP/Miguel Morenatti

A world-first trial by Melbourne researchers may develop a new technology that will help to stamp out match fixing by tracking professional sports stars.

Victoria University has signed a lucrative contract with FIFA — soccer’s powerful global governing body — to conduct the largest ever study of athlete tracking technology.

The research — including secret training sessions at Marvel Stadium and Real Madrid’s Spanish facilities — will be used to create a new global FIFA standard for wearable technology.

The work will allow fans to use an app or tap into a broadcast to measure how fast players such as Lionel Messi are running or how powerful Aussie tennis ace Ash Barty is hitting a ball.

It is also big news in the fight for sporting integrity with players monitored via technology to chart their performance and detect suspicious behaviour.

Victoria University Professor Rob Aughey said the “really exciting’’ research by Melbourne experts would “shake up the industry’’ and interest sporting leagues around the world.

“One of the things with match fixing is you have changes in betting markets which make it easy to detect but the hardest part is proving that a player is match fixing,’’ he said.

“This may help prove that a player is for whatever reason is choosing to play differently to normal.

“It’s a message to players too. We’re not just looking at the betting now. We’re looking at how you play.’’

The AFL has already flagged interest in the research, guided by experts in data analysis, computer vision and biomechanics.

FIFA’s match fixing integrity unit flew to Melbourne for 17 covert simulated games over 10 days at Marvel Stadium and AAMI Park to test the technology.

“If the tracking technology is good enough and accurate enough we should be able to identify when a player is playing differently to normal,’’ he said.

“It’s things like the player may lay off an opponent by a metre and allow them a better shot.

“Or you might not go as fast into a contest.’’

Victoria University was chosen from more than 20 universities around the world by an expert panel including the English Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga and world rugby representatives.

The team will create an industry benchmark that manufacturers need to pass to have their products used at FIFA-sanctioned events including the World Cup.

Prof Aughey said the university had struck a three-year deal with FIFA and would conduct annual testing in Melbourne and the northern hemisphere.

“The AFL is interested in the accuracy of this as well,’’ he said.

Phase one of the project found wild fluctuations between the speeds and distances said to be reached by sportspeople, depending on which company’s athlete-tracking technology was used.

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Athlete tracking shows where and how far a player runs and how fast they are at pivotal moments.

It allows analysts to see how slow players run, or how little ground they cover in matches with suspicious betting trends.

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