Brazil has made a significant stride in its efforts to combat match-fixing in sports by signing the Macolin Convention, an international treaty dedicated to preventing and addressing fraud in competitions. The signing ceremony took place at the Council of Europe in France, underscoring Brazil's commitment to enhancing international collaboration to safeguard the integrity of sports.
The agreement was formalized by Ricardo Neiva Tavares, the Brazilian ambassador to France, who represented the Brazilian government. The process involved oversight from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and included contributions from the Ministries of Sport, Finance, and Justice, highlighting extensive coordination among various governmental entities.
The Macolin Convention aims to bolster cooperation among governments, public authorities, sports organizations, event organizers, and betting operators. Its primary goal is to enhance the prevention and detection of activities that undermine the fairness of competition and public trust in sports.
Giovanni Rocco, Brazil's National Secretary of Sports Betting, remarked, "Brazil is taking an important step in protecting the integrity of sports. We have already made progress with the creation of the National Policy for the Prevention and Combat of Match-Fixing in Sports. By signing the Macolin Convention, we are expanding our scope for international cooperation, which strengthens our efforts against fraud and protects athletes, clubs, and fans."
The Ministry of Sport has been actively involved in Brazil's path toward signing the convention since 2025, when the National Secretariat for Sports Betting advocated for the country’s participation. In September 2025, Brazil's government expressed its intention to join the treaty after a thorough assessment by involved ministries. Since that point, the Ministry of Sport has provided technical and legal support while engaging in discussions monitoring the process.
A key initiative stemming from these efforts is the National Policy for the Prevention and Confrontation of Manipulation of Sports Results (PNPEMR), established in March 2026. This policy, developed with input from the Ministries of Finance and Justice, as well as the Federal Police, outlines regulations aimed at preventing, monitoring, and addressing incidents of sports fraud.
The Macolin Convention, which opened for signature in 2014 in Macolin, Switzerland, and took effect in September 2019, includes international guidelines for combating manipulation in sports. As of September 2026, it has been signed by 43 countries, with 17 having ratified the treaty. Beyond Europe, Australia and Morocco are also signatories. Brazil is now the first country in the Americas to join the convention, thereby broadening the international collaborative framework against match-fixing.
The measures outlined by the treaty include information sharing among countries, cooperation between relevant authorities, monitoring of suspicious betting activities, and the enhancement of prevention and accountability processes. Additionally, it mandates the establishment of a national platform in each signatory state to streamline information sharing and support the identification of potential irregularities.
Recognizing that match-fixing often involves cross-border networks, the convention emphasizes the need for integrated actions to maintain the credibility of sporting competitions and the public's confidence in sports.
While Brazil is progressing toward full accession to the Macolin Convention, it must complete several internal steps to officially become a State Party, including submitting the treaty to the National Congress for review and subsequent ratification. This signing represents a pivotal moment for Brazil, reiterating the federal government's resolve to foster a more ethical, transparent, and secure sporting environment.
