Indonesia: Can Positive Law Stop Match Fixing in Boxing or Mixed Martial Arts Matches?
In Brief?
Many individuals enjoy boxing and mixed martial arts as sports. Yet match rigging occurs often in the sport. In addressing the match-fixing problem, Law No. 11 of 1980 can be utilized as a legal basis to overcome the difficulties.
Highlights
a. Definition of Boxing and MMA
Boxing is a martial arts sport in which two opponents of similar weight compete by throwing punches at one another in a space known as the ring within a certain amount of time. Rounds are used to split boxing matches. 3 (three) minutes of play are combined with 1 (one) minute of break to make one round for professional boxing. In contrast, an amateur boxing round lasts 3 (three) minutes plus 1 (one) minute of break or 2 (two) minutes plus a 30-second break. 4 to 10 (four?to?ten) rounds are used in professional boxing at amateur to intermediate levels, while 12 (twelve) rounds are used for world and national championship levels.
The combat sport known as mixed martial arts (MMA) combines elements of boxing, wrestling, judo, jujitsu, karate, muay thai, and other disciplines. Although MMA was at first criticized as a vicious blood sport without regulations, it eventually grow its reputation for no-holds-barred combat and became one of the fastest-growing spectator sports in the early 21st century. All 50 states in the United States as well as numerous other nations banned MMA events.
For employees like me, the weekends are "paradise". Attending a boxing or mixed martial arts bout is one way to spend the weekend. Also, the Holywings Sport Show now holds boxing events on a regular basis in Indonesia, and there is also UFC 287 in Las Vegas, United States.
There are always "strange" matches, as a fan of boxing and MMA, can attest. For example in MMA, the challenger Conor McGregor knocked out the ten-year unbeaten champion Jose Aldo in just 13 seconds. Sometimes, this causes supporters to have conspiracy theories about match-fixing plots. So, what is match fixing? Is match fixing regulated by Indonesian law?
b. Definition of Match Fixing
Match fixing, then, is the act of arranging a game so that the final score or outcome is predetermined. This can occur in any sport, but it is typically related to gambling houses for making money by winning at inflated odds.
When fans of boxing and MMA who really want to be entertained learn that the match is fixed, they are typically angry and wonder, "How is it different from drama or a soap opera?". Then, I wondered if the legal perspective about match-fixing in Indonesia. The legal concept known as Lex Sportiva, which has its own autonomy in resolving problems that arise in sports, is where it is known. The World Boxing Association and the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) serve as the background in boxing or mixed martial arts.
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c. Law No. 11 of 1980
The word "bribery" comes from the French word "briberrie," which also refers to begging or vagrancy (vagrant). Its name, briba, means "a bit of bread given to a beggar" in Latin. In its development, bribe signifies 'alms', 'blackmail', or 'extortion' in reference to 'gifts received or provided in order to influence corruptly'. In light of the fact that bribery is extremely dishonorable and even humiliating to human dignity, especially for the recipient of the bribe, one who engages in it should genuinely be ashamed of themselves.
While Law No. 11 of 1980 regulates the crime of bribery is still in effect, nobody has been in punished of it up until this point since the offense was merged into Corruption Law No. 20 of 2001. Because bribery is seen to include a provision that is hard to establish, the public prosecutor chooses to employ the corruption legislation instead.
d. Law No. 11/1980 on MMA and Boxing Match Fixing
When it is known that there is match fixing in boxing or mixed martial arts. Usually, organizations will give punishments to athletes or coaches, such as bans from engaging in these sports for a certain period of time or even forever. Unfortunately, the organization will not be able to reach the game controller, or "big fish", who is not an athlete or coach. But it turns out that there is an opportunity by using Law No. 11 of 1980, which regulates bribery, but it must be noted that there was an act of bribery to carry out match fixing. So there must be an act of giving something or making a promise to an athlete or coach with the aim of fixing a match result. This can be done because there is a phrase "concerning the public interest" in articles 2 and 3, which can be interpreted as having an impact on society because they cannot enjoy boxing or MMA matches fairly.
e. Comparison
The FBI can become involved to address charges of match-fixing since different things have occurred in the US. One of the biggest featured seven professional boxers, one coach, three high-ranking authorities, and four managers of gambling house in 2004. Even looking back, legendary boxers like MA and MT were allegedly implicated in match rigging in the 1990s. Hence, let's look after this sport!
f. Solution
If there are any strange things linked to the circumstances before or after the match, it would be excellent to have the community, officials, athletes, and other stakeholders in this sport participating and active in performing analysis and reporting. The time delay and the discrepancy between the statistical findings and the outcomes of the judging are the most typical examples.