TLDR Sportradar flagged 1,116 suspicious matches in 2025 across 94 countries and 12 sports, less than 0.5% of over one million monitored events Match-fixing has shifted from rigging game outcomes to manipulating in-game events like corners and fouls Live betting markets account for 77% of all detected match-fixing cases Football leads with 618 suspicious matches, followed by basketball, tennis, and table tennis Fraud activity is moving from Europe and South America toward Asia and Africa
The total number of matches showing signs of match-fixing dropped in 2025, but experts warn the problem is not going away. Instead, it is evolving into something more complex and harder to catch.
Sportradar reported 1,116 matches with indicators of manipulation last year. Those matches spanned 94 countries and 12 different sports.
That figure represents less than 0.5% of the more than one million sporting events the organization monitored during the year.
While the raw numbers may look small, specialists say the nature of the fraud has changed. The schemes are now more advanced and involve fewer people, making them tougher to spot.
In-Game Events Replace Match Outcomes as Main Targets
Traditional match-fixing usually meant a team or player would deliberately lose a game. That approach is becoming less common.
Today, fixers are targeting specific in-game events instead. Things like the number of corners, fouls, or throw-ins have become the focus of manipulation.
Because these small events do not change the final result of a match, they are much harder for investigators to flag. The manipulation flies under the radar more easily.
These newer schemes also require fewer participants. A single player or official can influence a minor event without drawing attention from teammates or coaches.
Live betting has become a major factor in this shift. A total of 77% of all