The globalised network of a dirty game: match-fixing,illegal betting and transnational organised crime in Italian football

This paper examines the role of illicit networks and transnational crime organisations in fostering match-fixing and illegal betting in the globalised world. The goal is to identify the characteristics of these illicit phenomena and their basic structures and functions. Social network analysis was conducted to explore the scandal known as Calcioscommesse that came to light in Italy between 2011 and 2013. Attention is focused on brokers and crime syndicates that operate in Italian football, with the objective of comprehending their relations, functions and balances of power; this research clarifies the roles of the collective and individual actors in transnationally promoting match-fixing and illegal betting.