Brazil has made a significant advance in the battle against match-fixing by signing the Macolin Convention, the principal international agreement targeting fraud in sports competitions. The signing ceremony occurred on Friday at the Council of Europe's headquarters in France, symbolizing a step forward in global collaboration to protect the integrity of sports.
The Brazilian ambassador to France, Ricardo Neiva Tavares, signed the document on behalf of the government, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs overseeing the process. The signing involved contributions from the Ministries of Sport, Finance, and Justice.
This Convention lays out frameworks for cooperation among governments, public institutions, sports organizations, event organizers, and betting operators. Its aim is to enhance prevention, identification, and confrontation of activities that threaten the fairness of sporting outcomes and public confidence in sports.
“Brazil is taking an important step in protecting the integrity of sports,” stated Giovanni Rocco, Brazil's National Secretary of Sports Betting. “We have already made progress with the creation of the National Policy for the Prevention and Combat of Match-Fixing in Sports. Now, with the signing of the Macolin Convention, we are expanding the possibilities for international cooperation. This work strengthens the fight against fraud and helps protect athletes, clubs, and fans.”
The Ministry of Sport has been actively involved in the negotiations for Brazil's participation in the Convention since 2025, when the National Secretariat for Sports Betting submitted a technical statement supporting this endeavor. The formal intention to join the treaty was announced by the Brazilian government in September 2025, after thorough evaluations by the involved ministries.
Since announcing its intention, the Ministry of Sport has provided technical and legal assistance and engaged in discussions related to the treaty's implementation. An essential development was the National Policy for the Prevention and Confrontation of Manipulation of Sports Results (PNPEMR), initiated in March 2026, which the Ministry of Sport coordinates in partnership with the Ministries of Finance and Justice and the Federal Police. This policy sets forth guidelines for regulating, preventing, monitoring, and addressing sports fraud.
Opened for signature in 2014 in Macolin, Switzerland, and effective since September 2019, the Convention has established international standards for combatting manipulation in sports. By September 2026, 43 countries had signed it, 17 of which had ratified the treaty. Outside of Europe, Australia and Morocco are also signatories.
Brazil stands out as the first country in the Americas to sign the Convention, enhancing international cooperation against match-fixing. The treaty includes measures for information exchange between countries, collaboration among regulatory authorities, monitoring suspicious betting activities, and reinforcing prevention and accountability mechanisms. Each state is also required to set up a national platform to centralize information, enhancing communication across relevant sectors and helping identify irregularities.
Recognizing that match-fixing can involve intricate transnational schemes, the Convention emphasizes the need for integrated action to maintain the credibility of sporting events and public trust in sports.
While Brazil is advancing toward full accession to the Convention, it must complete specific internal processes to be officially recognized as a State Party. The treaty text is set to be reviewed and approved by the National Congress before the ratification process can be finalized, in line with established protocols for adopting international agreements.
This signing signifies a new chapter in Brazil's engagement with international efforts to combat match-fixing, underlining the federal government's commitment to fostering an ethical, transparent, and secure sporting environment.
