The South American Football Confederation (Conmebol) and the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) have decided to strengthen their partnership this season.
Currently, the focus is on combating match-fixing through in-person training.
How is the training going?
This month, more than 100 CONMEBOL referees are undergoing an intensive educational program organized by the Ethics, Compliance and Integrity Directorate.
The idea is not to remain solely in theory. Therefore, the program promotes practical training, teaching how to identify threats and, most importantly, how to protect oneself and the spectacle against illegal betting schemes.
The sessions are led by Jean-François Reymond, IBIA’s education ambassador.
It addresses sensitive topics such as criminal practices, misuse of privileged information, and, above all, the rules that every professional needs to know to avoid jeopardizing their career.
The referees leave with concrete tools, knowing exactly which reporting channels to use and how manipulation attempts typically occur in real life.
Importance of training
With the growth of the betting market in Latin America, this initiative shows that protecting sports requires daily action, not just reacting when a problem arises.
Since match-fixing rarely begins with a public scandal, but rather in silence and pressure, education serves precisely to break the initial cycle.
What the leaders say
Graciela Garay, CONMEBOL’s Director of Ethics, Compliance and Integrity, highlighted the importance of integrity for the sport.
“Integrity is not an abstract value; it is a governance priority and a strategic pillar for the development of football,” he said.
“By placing education at the center of our integrity framework, we are empowering referees with the knowledge, confidence, and institutional support they need to act with determination,” the director explained.
“This proactive approach strengthens trust, protects our competitions, and reinforces CONMEBOL’s long-term commitment to transparency, credibility, and fair play in South American football,” he added.
According to Jean-François Reymond, Educational Ambassador of IBIA, the responsibility of referees in football is greater than one might imagine.
“Referees are not just responsible for enforcing the rules, they are the guardians of the competition itself. Education gives them clarity, confidence, and protection,” he explained.
“When referees understand how match-fixing works and how to respond to it, the scope for manipulating results decreases dramatically,” Reymond commented.
“As a global benchmark in educating athletes about integrity in betting, we are very excited to work closely with CONMEBOL and its Ethics, Compliance and Integrity Department, given their commitment to creating a culture of integrity in football,” he said.
In addition to training, the partnership remains strong behind the scenes, mainly through the exchange of alerts about suspicious bets via IBIA’s global monitoring platform.