Brazil has made significant strides in its efforts to combat match-fixing within sports. On Friday, the nation formally signed the Macolin Convention, an international treaty specifically designed to prevent and address fraud in sporting events.
The signing ceremony was held at the Council of Europe's headquarters in France, symbolizing enhanced international collaboration aimed at safeguarding the integrity of sports competitions. Brazilian Ambassador to France Ricardo Neiva Tavares represented the government during this event, which was coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and involved contributions from the Ministries of Sport, Finance, and Justice.
This Convention lays out a framework for cooperation among various stakeholders, including governments, sports organizations, competition organizers, and betting operators. Its primary goal is to bolster the prevention, identification, and response to actions that undermine fair competition and public trust in sports.
Giovanni Rocco, Brazil's National Secretary of Sports Betting, emphasized the significance of this development, stating, "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. This work strengthens the fight against fraud and helps protect athletes, clubs, and fans."
Brazil's Ministry of Sport began preparing for this treaty's accession back in 2025 when the National Secretariat for Sports Betting submitted a technical statement advocating for Brazil's participation. In September of the same year, the government publicly expressed its intention to join the agreement following a collaborative review by the relevant ministries.
The Ministry has provided technical and legal assistance throughout the negotiations and has been actively involved in discussions regarding the treaty.
Additionally, Brazil has implemented the National Policy for the Prevention and Confrontation of Manipulation of Sports Results (PNPEMR), established in March 2026. This policy, which is coordinated by the Ministry of Sport, was developed in cooperation with the Ministries of Finance and Justice, alongside the Federal Police, and aims to set guidelines for the regulation, prevention, monitoring, and enforcement against sports fraud.
The Macolin Convention, open for signatures since 2014 in Macolin, Switzerland, has been effective since September 2019. By September 2026, it had garnered 43 signatories, of which 17 have ratified it. Notably, Brazil is the first country in the Americas to sign this treaty, thereby enhancing the international commitment to combatting match-fixing.
The Convention includes provisions for information sharing between nations, cooperation among relevant authorities, oversight of suspicious betting activities, and the implementation of stronger preventive measures and accountability systems. It also calls for the establishment of a national platform in each state to consolidate information, streamline communication across sectors, and assist in identifying potential irregularities.
Recognizing that match manipulation may involve cross-border networks, the treaty emphasizes the need for coordinated action to uphold the credibility of sports and maintain society's trust.
While Brazil progresses toward becoming a full signatory of the Convention, it must undertake additional domestic steps, namely submitting the treaty to the National Congress for review and approval, followed by completing its ratification as per the stipulated procedures for adopting international treaties. This signing marks a pivotal moment in Brazil's engagement with global initiatives against match-fixing and reflects a commitment to fostering a more ethical, transparent, and secure sporting culture.
