With the entry into force of regulations on sports betting and online gaming on January 1, 2025, numerous sports organizations had to adjust their protocols both to comply with the new rules and to curb the risk of manipulation. The São Paulo Football Federation (FPF), responsible for one of the country’s main state championships, was one of them.
Through its press office, the FPF highlighted the pioneering work carried out in Brazil to combat match-fixing. Since 2015, the organization has operated in a structured manner through its Integrity Committee. Furthermore, it reported recent changes to competition regulations, which now include stricter rules of conduct and specific procedures to prevent conflicts of interest.
The Strategic Plan to Prevent and Combat Competition Manipulation provides for a continuous cycle of lectures and educational activities aimed at clubs, athletes, referees and managers, with special attention to the lower divisions and youth categories.
According to the press office, the FPF has “sports betting companies among its sponsors and has started receiving revenue from fixed-odds bets resulting from national, regional or state competitions.”
In this way, these revenues are “passed on proportionally to the affiliated clubs, and invested in the organization of competitions, in the improvement of refereeing, in the expansion of integrity, education and sports development programs in the State and in the development of São Paulo Football as a whole”.
iGaming Brazil: Does the Federation maintain any type of partnership with companies specializing in betting monitoring to identify suspicious patterns in real time?
São Paulo Football Federation: Yes. The FPF is a pioneer in Brazil in combating match-fixing, operating in a structured manner since 2015 through its Integrity Committee.
Since 2020, the FPF has maintained a cooperation agreement with SIGA (Sport Integrity Global Alliance), the leading international organization dedicated to integrity in sport, and since 2022 it has maintained a partnership with Stats Perform, a world reference in monitoring suspicious movements in the betting market, and since 2018 it has had Sportradar as an integrity partner.
This structure allows for the identification, in real time, of atypical patterns that may indicate a risk of manipulation, reinforcing the FPF’s commitment to transparency and fair competitions.
iGaming Brazil: Are there training programs or lectures aimed at players, referees, and managers about the risks and consequences of match-fixing?
São Paulo Football Federation: Yes. The Strategic Plan to Prevent and Combat Match-Fixing provides for a continuous cycle of lectures and educational activities aimed at clubs, athletes, referees, and officials. The activities address risks, consequences, and prevention methods, as well as provide clear guidelines on conduct and reporting channels.
These initiatives already take place in competitions such as the Copinha Sicredi, where thousands of athletes participate in training and specific lectures on the topic, encompassing all host cities and competing clubs during the group stage. Furthermore, the Federation has a Manual of Good Integrity Practices available on its official website for consultation, guidance, and clarification of doubts for the general public.
iGaming Brazil: Does this integrity work include youth and women’s soccer? Are there any additional concerns regarding teams competing in the lower divisions of FPF-sponsored competitions?
São Paulo Football Federation: Yes. The integrity work is comprehensive and encompasses all categories organized by the FPF, from youth to professional football, including women’s football. Special attention is paid to the lower divisions and youth teams. Therefore, in addition to monitoring, educational and preventive actions are intensified in these competitions, fostering a culture of integrity from the athletes’ first steps in the sport.
iGaming Brazil: What official channels are available for athletes, referees, or fans to report possible irregularities?
São Paulo Football Federation: The FPF provides exclusive and confidential channels for reporting match-fixing, including a hotline and a specific email address for the topic (https://www.futebolpaulista.com.br/Canal-Integridade) and https://canal.ouvidordigital.com.br/canaldenunciasfpf.
All reports are received by the FPF Legal Department, which protects the identity of the complainant and analyzes each case carefully, forwarding it to the appropriate authorities when necessary, such as Drade, the Internal Affairs Department, the Integrity Committee and the State/Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office..
iGaming Brazil: What protocol is adopted when the Federation notices or is notified of a suspected case of manipulation in its competitions?
São Paulo Football Federation: Upon receiving a complaint or identifying evidence through monitoring, the FPF Legal Department activates the protocol set forth in the Integrity Standard Operating Procedure. This includes a technical analysis of the facts, information gathering, involvement of the Internal Affairs Department, and, when applicable, immediate referral to the police authorities and the São Paulo Court of Justice (TJD-SP) for appropriate legal and sporting measures.
iGaming Brazil: With the sports betting regulations coming into effect in January, did the FPF need to make any adjustments to its regulations or policies—whether regarding integrity or commercial issues like sponsorships?
São Paulo Football Federation: Yes. The FPF has revised and adapted its General Competition Regulations and internal protocols to strengthen integrity in light of the new sports betting landscape.
These changes range from stricter rules of conduct to specific procedures to prevent conflicts of interest, as well as awareness campaigns for everyone involved in the competitions, and the transfer of funds from operators to the clubs participating in the matches offered on betting sites.
iGaming Brazil: Sports organizations should receive resources from the online betting sector. Has the São Paulo Federation already started receiving these resources? Does it have plans in place for this new revenue?
São Paulo Football Federation: Yes. The FPF has sports betting companies among its sponsors and has begun receiving revenue from fixed-odds bets on national, regional, or state competitions organized or recognized by it.
They are transferred proportionally to affiliated clubs and invested in organizing competitions, improving refereeing, expanding integrity, education and sports development programs in the State and in the development of São Paulo Football as a whole.
