Money Laundering in the Sports Industry and the Role of Emerging Technologies in Detection and Prevention with Emphasis on Deepfake Challenges in Sports Contracts

Abstract

Money laundering has become a fundamental threat to economic transparency and social integrity, extending its scope into non-financial domains such as sports. The vast financial turnover of professional sports, complex contractual structures, and the involvement of international investors create fertile ground for suspicious capital inflows. Inflated player transfers, sports betting, fictitious sponsorship contracts, and broadcasting rights are among the main channels of money laundering in sports. Meanwhile, emerging technologies such as blockchain, artificial intelligence, and big data analytics provide effective tools for identifying anomalies and preventing financial crimes. However, the rise of deepfake technology poses a new challenge, threatening the authenticity of contracts and potentially being used in legal contexts as a tool for forgery and manipulation. This paper, using a descriptive-analytical approach, examines the key mechanisms of money laundering in sports, analyzes the role of emerging technologies in prevention, and explores the challenges posed by deepfake in sports contracts. The findings highlight that the integration of emerging technologies with legal frameworks and international cooperation represents the most effective strategy for combating money laundering in the sports industry.