FIFA stops internal fixing monitoring, outsources operations

LONDON (AP) FIFA is stopping the internal detection of match-fixing, outsourcing a ''key pillar'' of its work protecting the integrity of world soccer.

The Early Warning System has been operated by FIFA for a decade, investigating betting irregularities in games, including World Cup qualifiers and the final tournament.

But FIFA told The Associated Press on Friday it had hired data services company Sportradar to use its Fraud Detection System to ''identify and analyze any suspicious betting behavior or patterns.''

The governing body previously highlighted the advantages of its own EWS, describing it as a ''key pillar of FIFA's ethics work'' and stressing that it operated independently of the commercial betting industry. A Sportradar division provides services to bookmakers.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino says Sportradar will ''invigorate and enhance our integrity program.''