Good Referees are Being Sidelined - Veteran Olympic Referee Sounds the Alarm
Fencing, boxing and other combat sports are plagued by very real risks of corruption. Three-time Olympic referee Patrick Vajda speaks out on how referees risk becoming pawns in shady sports politics.
A cloud of suspicion is hanging over combat sports. Allegations of cronyism and corruption have become too frequent to ignore, with even athletes speaking out.
Few people understand the minutiae of sports refereeing like France’s Patrick Vajda. Three Olympic Games as a fencing referee. A fourth as refereeing delegate of the International Fencing Federation (FIE). Former president and founder of the International Federation of Sports Officials (IFSO) and founding member of the French Association of Multi-Sports Officials (AFCAM).
Yet Vajda is worried. His sport, fencing, has seen its share of problems, including accusations on social media of cronyism and corruption among its refereeing corps. Referees suspected of match manipulation have received suspensions, but just prior to the 2024 Olympics, US fencers wrote an open letter stating that “everyone in the fencing community knows about the match manipulation happening in our sport.”
But the problems go far beyond fencing. In other combat sports, he has spotted worrying trends beyond fencing. Referees may be sidelined, if they don’t bow to the wishes of higher-ups. Senior officials, especially in technical commissions of international federations, may be picked or elected for their political clout, instead of their knowledge of a sport.
The Sports and Crime Briefing sat down with one of the most influential voices in global refereeing to fully understand these concerns.
Sports and Crime Briefing: Mr. Vajda, could you shed some light on the evolution of corruption in individual sports, such as fencing, over time? How have the practices changed?
Patrick Vajda: Individual sports have always been prone to influence, even corruption. Boxing is a typical example, although it involves a specific set of issues. Individual sports create a genuine proximity between the athlete and the referee, and this is difficult to neutralize because it would require enormous resources that only tennis has been able to implement.
When I was officiating fencing we observed rather subtle influence attempts. I was approached many times, often just before a crucial match, particularly during the Olympic Games, by coaches or federation presidents.
These contacts were presented under the guise of friendship, often using phrases such as "we know you are always fair in your decisions," but trying to ensure a favourable arbitration in this way. These were clear influence attempts, but rarely with a direct offer of quid pro quo.
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