INFLUENCE OF SPORTS BETTING ON THE INTEGRITY OF SPORTS AMONG PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL CLUBS IN KWARA STATE

Authors

  • A. K. OLAOYE Department of Human Kinetics Education, Faculty of Education University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara State
  • F. N. IKWUKA Department of Physical and Health Education, FCT College of Education, Zuba, Abuja.
  • O. DAUDA Department of Human Kinetics Education, Faculty of Education University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara State
  • R. Olusola Department of Human Kinetics Education, Faculty of Education University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara State
  • M. G. INA Department of Human Kinetics Education, Faculty of Education University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara State

Keywords:

Sports betting, unethical behaviour, sports integrity, athletes behaviour

Abstract

It is beyond doubt that sports eminently thrive by the grace of its integrity. The mere semblance
of dishonesty, manipulation or corruption and unethical behaviour among football clubs often
leads to pure loathing of sports authority with all its potentials. This study examined the
influence of sports betting on sports integrity among professional football clubs in Kwara state.
The objectives of the study were to: (i) determine if sports betting leads to unethical behaviour
(match-fixing) (ii) investigate the influence of sports betting on football players' attitude and
(iii). Investigate if sports betting influences bias officiating. Descriptive survey design was
adopted for the study. The population consisted of three hundred and fifteen (315) athletes and
club managers in professional football clubs in Kwara State. All the 315 respondents
representing 100% of the population were purposively selected and used for this study.
Researcher designed structured questionnaire validated by three experts in related disciplines
was used for data collection. Reliability co-efficient of r=.86 was obtained through test re-test
method using Pearson's Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). Three null hypotheses were
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tested using Chi-square (x ) at 0.05 alpha level.The findings revealed that: Sports betting
though unethical behaviour, players' behaviour and bias officiating have significant influence
on sports integrity among professional football clubs in Kwara State. The study concluded that
Sports betting leads to unethical behavior, Football players' poor attitude and bias officiating
among professional football clubs in Kwara State. It was therefore, recommended that Sports
administrators and football governing body should create more awareness programmes to
check the participation in sports betting and protect sports integrity among professional football
clubs in Kwara State. Sports administrators should develop and implement programmes that
will restrain both players and sports lovers from influencing the outcome of football competition
because of financial gain through sports betting.

Published

2020-06-25

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 2 (2020)

Section

Articles