Liverpool FC chief executive Rick Parry has been appointed to lead an expert panel on sports betting integrity by the UK's Sports Minister, Gerry Sutcliffe.

The panel, which will address issues believed to be threatening the integrity of sport, brings together representatives from the betting industry, the police, players, fans, sports governing bodies, the legal profession and the Gambling Commission.

In addition to assessing existing rules on sport betting, the panel will be charged with the task of evaluating the current risk to sports’ integrity through betting corruption.

“I am delighted that Rick Parry has agreed to lead this vitally important work,” Sutcliffe said. “His expertise in the nation’s most high profile sport, along with that of the other panel members, will give this project the impetus it needs to tackle sports betting corruption head-on.”

Parry will be joined on the panel by Mark Davies, managing director of Betfair, Mike O’Kane, group trading director for Ladbrokes, and Bill South, director of security at William Hill.