UEFA President Michel Platini has singled out Bulgaria as one of the few European countries, which has adopted laws to criminalize what he described as "sporting fraud".

"The criminalisation of sports fraud is far from universal. And this deficiency is, in part, why match-fixing is still going on. Its international nature aggravates the situation further still," Platini said on Wednesday in a keynote speech to the Council of Europe.

Along with Bulgaria, Platini also praised Italy, Portugal, Spain, Britain and Poland for making match-fixing a criminal offence.

"European football is in danger and I believe I could even say that the whole of sport in Europe is in danger," the former France captain said.

"The growing number of fixed matches connected to online betting is alarming, it doesn't spare any discipline and no country is safe.

"These fixed matches are orchestrated by criminal organizations," he added.

Platini called on the Council of Europe to intervene, saying this was a necessary step today.

"It is necessary to encourage member states to criminalise sporting fraud and to encourage the indispensable co-operation between public authorities and sporting authorities. It's a question of responsibility, a question of ethics, a question of justice."

Platini said he also wanted national football associations to be recognised as the owners of the competitions they organise.

"Recognition of the rights of property and the incrimination of sporting fraud ... these two principles constitute the base of a responsible, energetic and courageous intervention of the part of the legislator," he said.

"We've reached a point where public authorities can no longer elude their responsibilities."

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