Brazil has taken significant strides to combat match-fixing in sports by signing the Macolin Convention, an international treaty aimed at preventing fraud in competitions. This event occurred at the Council of Europe's headquarters in France, underlining Brazil's commitment to enhancing global cooperation in this essential area.
The treaty was signed by Ricardo Neiva Tavares, the Brazilian ambassador to France, on behalf of the government, with oversight from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and collaboration from the Ministries of Sport, Finance, and Justice.
The Convention creates frameworks for collaboration among governments, public authorities, sports organizations, competition organizers, and betting operators. Its primary goal is to enhance efforts to prevent, identify, and tackle practices that undermine fair results and trust in sports.
Giovanni Rocco, the National Secretary of Sports Betting in Brazil, emphasized the importance of this agreement. He stated, "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. Now, with the signing of the Macolin Convention, we are expanding the possibilities for international cooperation, strengthening the fight against fraud and protecting athletes, clubs, and fans."
The Ministry of Sport has been actively involved in this process since 2025 when it supported Brazil's participation in the Convention. The government formally expressed its intent to join the treaty in September of that year after thorough assessments by the relevant ministries. The Ministry of Sport has played a pivotal role, offering technical and legal support and monitoring negotiations throughout.
Additionally, Brazil has enacted the National Policy for the Prevention and Confrontation of Manipulation of Sports Results (PNPEMR), initiated in March 2026, working closely with the Ministries of Finance and Justice and involving the Federal Police. This policy sets forth guidelines for regulating, preventing, monitoring, inspecting, and combatting sports fraud.
The Macolin Convention, opened for signature in 2014 in Switzerland and effective since September 2019, outlines international standards aimed at countering the manipulation of sports contests. As of September 2026, it had been signed by 43 countries, 17 of which had ratified it, including non-European nations like Australia and Morocco. With this signing, Brazil becomes the first nation in the Americas to join, enhancing international cooperation against match-fixing.
Key provisions of the treaty include mechanisms for information exchange, collaboration between authorities, and monitoring of suspicious sports betting activities. It also mandates the establishment of national platforms in each participating country to centralize data and facilitate communication among involved sectors, thereby identifying potential anomalies.
Recognizing the transnational nature of sports manipulation, the Convention promotes integrated efforts to maintain the credibility of sporting events and instill public trust in sports.
As Brazil advances towards fully adopting the Convention, the next steps involve submitting the treaty to the National Congress for evaluation and approval, followed by completing the ratification process as prescribed for international treaties. This signing signifies a pivotal moment in Brazil's alignment with global mechanisms to combat match-fixing, reinforcing the government's dedication to fostering a more ethical, transparent, and secure environment in sports.
