The Justice Ministry proposes adding a new section to the Criminal Law, which would introduce the concept of match fixing and stipulate penalties for up to one year, community service, or fines for persons convicted of match fixing.
Persons convicted of match fixing for personal material gain will be facing jail sentences of up to three years, community service, or fines.
In case of large-scale match fixing or if an organized group is involved in match fixing, the maximum prison sentence will be up to five years.
The ministry has also drawn up amendments to the Sports Law, which clearly state that manipulation of sports competition is prohibited.
Justice Ministry Dzintars Rasnacs hopes that the amendments will come into force on January 1, 2016.
Latvia has in the past bee the scene of several match-fixing scandals, most notably involving a UEFA expose of the activities of a Daugavpils soccer club.
