Why Players Aren’t Listening, and Federations Aren’t Asking - Interview with a Former Match-Fixer
Former footballer Moses Swaibu, once jailed for match-fixing, is trying to fundamentally change how players are trained for when organized crime comes knocking.
Moses Swaibu gives one of those interviews that stays with you. A former player with Crystal Palace and Lincoln City, he was jailed for sixteen months in 2015 after becoming embroiled in a match-fixing ring.
Since then, Swaibu has worked to expose and fix the glaring problems he sees with the way athletes are taught about integrity, betting, and organised crime, through his organisation, GameChanger360.
In a wide-ranging interview, the Sports and Crime Briefing sat down with Swaibu to discuss how match-fixers latch onto vulnerable players, why young athletes don’t pay attention to integrity seminars, and much more.
Sports and Crime Briefing (SCB): Moses, let’s start with the heart of it: What led you into match-fixing, and how did that experience shape your current mission?
Moses Swaibu: To be honest, you don’t really understand the mechanics of match-fixing unless you’ve lived it. This isn’t something you can fully grasp by reading about it or studying it—it’s about understanding the motivations, the cultural behaviors, and the systems that allow it to thrive.
When I was first approached by match-fixers, I said no. At that point, I knew it was wrong, and I didn’t want to jeopardise my career. But when I dropped out of professional football into the semi-professional game, it was different. Clubs weren’t paying players on time—or at all, in some cases. When you’re not being paid, and someone offers you a way out, it’s easy to convince yourself it’s not so bad. For me, I’d grown up in survival mode—homeless at times, locked out of the house, and dealing with a lot of personal trauma. Football was my lifeline, but when that lifeline frayed, I made choices I’m not proud of.
What people don’t understand is how structured match-fixing networks are. I met match-fixers every day—they’re like a religion.
They believe in what they’re doing. They don’t just fix matches; they manipulate entire systems. They’re precise, organized, and well ahead of law enforcement. That experience—being both part of the system and seeing how it operates—has shaped everything I’m doing with GameChanger360.
SCB: What’s the biggest gap you’ve identified in how integrity is managed in sports?
Swaibu: Integrity is treated as an afterthought. Federations see it as a box-ticking exercise, something they have to do but don’t prioritize. The officers responsible for integrity? They’re often juggling five different roles: match-fixing, safeguarding, anti-doping, diversity, and so on.
SCB: What about the players themselves? You’ve mentioned before that current education efforts don’t resonate. Why is that?
Swaibu: Players don’t relate to the way education is delivered. Integrity workshops are boring. You’ve got 300 players sitting in a stadium, scrolling on their phones, not paying attention.
And who’s delivering the session? Someone who doesn’t know what makes them tick—what food they eat, what culture they come from, what their struggles are.
Athletes have short attention spans. They’re on TikTok, Instagram, Netflix. If you want to reach them, you need to speak their language. That’s where GameChanger360 is different. We use real stories, immersive learning, and tech platforms to meet players where they are. When I speak to athletes, I tell them about my own mistakes, my own journey, and they listen because they know I’ve been there.
SCB: You’ve worked with international sports organisations around the world. Who’s been most open to your ideas?
Swaibu: FIFA, for sure. I spoke at their first Global Integrity Summit earlier this year. There were representatives from 211 member associations, and they gave me the platform to present the company GC360 in addition to my journey from darkness to redemption.
People were in shock because they’d never heard it presented this way from someone who’s lived it.
But here’s the thing: Integrity doesn’t make money. Federations will spend millions on marketing or commercial ventures, but integrity? It’s usually at the bottom of the list.
FIFA have a clear vision and roadmap for the future. In my opinion, they are doing everything they can whilst providing the resources to make it work plus they have some amazing people.
SCB: How does your experience with match-fixing inform the solutions you’re developing at GameChanger360?
Swaibu: It’s everything. When I went through my trials, I realized the legal system didn’t even understand match-fixing. There weren’t any specific laws for it in the UK. The prosecutors didn’t know the game, and I could see where their gaps were.
But match-fixing isn’t just about manipulating a scoreline. It’s tied to organized crime, cryptocurrency, money laundering—you name it. These networks are global. You’ve got small clubs in the UK linked to teams in Europe, South America, and beyond. When I look at the rise of multi-club ownership today, I think, “If I still had my match-fixer mindset, I could exploit this system easily.” That’s how vulnerable it is.
GameChanger360 takes everything I’ve learned—the psychology, the patterns, the systems—and turns it into actionable education. It’s not about scaring players; it’s about showing them the real consequences and giving them the tools to make better choices.
SCB: Finally, what’s your vision for the future of integrity in sport?
Swaibu: Integrity has to move beyond lip service. It’s not just about preventing scandals; it’s about building a culture where athletes feel supported, federations are accountable, and the game is protected.
GameChanger360 is about creating that change. We’re building tools, training programs, and partnerships to make integrity education scalable and impactful. If we can empower players, federations, and stakeholders with the right knowledge and support, we can make a real difference—not just in sport, but in society.