Russia is to introduce a new law before parliament which would for the first time allow criminal prosecution for match-fixing in football in the country, officials said Wednesday. A proposal from Federal Audit Chamber chairman Sergei Stepashin received the strong support of the country's government and the new amendments to the state law about physical culture could be introduced before the end of 2012.
Russia's Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said that the lower house of the country's parliament, the State Duma, had already created a group to prepare the new amendments. "We hope the amendments will be ready for the Duma's consideration in the first half of this year," Mutko said. "After that we are set to pass a new law about football before setting up the question about criminal liability for match-fixing. We will also take into consideration the international practice in this sphere."