The
Brazilian Football Confederation
(CBF) held, in a joint action with the South American Football Confederation
(CONMEBOL) and Betano, the Integrity Training last Friday (3).
The meeting was held in the organization’s auditorium and brought together a diverse group of leaders, including the CBF board of directors, representatives from ministries, clubs, federations, and members of the Superior Court of Sports Justice (STJD).
The central objective, therefore, was to debate solutions to critical challenges such as match-fixing, episodes of violence and discrimination in sporting events.
Commitment to leadership and integrity
Brazil stands out in South America for its leadership in sports regulation. In this regard, at the opening of the event, CBF president Samir Xaud reaffirmed the confederation’s leading role in maintaining a healthy sports environment.
“We want a fair and respectful environment for those who play, those who support, and those who believe. The CBF reaffirms today, publicly and unequivocally, its commitment to a culture of integrity, which does not bow to hidden interests, nor tolerate any form of violence or discrimination.”
The speech was then echoed by Graciela Garay, CONMEBOL’s Director of Ethics, Compliance, and Integrity. She emphasized the importance of organizations working with coordinated guidelines to strengthen the football ecosystem.
“We must always be aligned. Conmebol’s mission is to contribute to our member associations, so that we are all on the same page. Brazil has important initiatives in this field, with joint work between ministries and intelligence departments. The CBF is an important strategic ally.”
Betting regulation as the main focus
One of the main focuses of the debate was the threat of match-fixing. Thus, the seriousness of the topic was reflected in the program, which dedicated three exclusive panels to this discussion.
Giovanni Rocco , Secretary of the Ministry of Sports, actively participated in and advocated for the regulation of online betting as an essential tool for protecting sports.
Rocco stated: “Our greatest concern is to defend the integrity of Brazilian sport, to defend the integrity of the athletes, the unpredictability of results and the passion of Brazilians, which is football.
We have a principle at the National Sports Betting Secretariat: no one does anything alone. It’s a complex issue, and the partnership with the CBF, with support from CONMEBOL, is essential to show everyone involved in football the right path to follow.”
A broad vision beyond the four lines
The event also highlighted that a culture of integrity goes beyond match-fixing. Eduardo Gussem, CBF Integrity Officer, stated that the topic involves combating homophobia, racism, and domestic violence related to football.
The presence of representatives from the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Ministry of Finance reinforced the multidisciplinary nature of the discussions.
Gussem led the panel “Impacts of the Betting Market and the Importance of Effective Regulation in Brazil”, which brought together the president of the STJD, Luis Otávio Veríssimo, the director of ESG at São Paulo, Roberto Armelin, and prosecutor Tiago Gonçalves Veras Gomes.
Eduardo Gussem: said, “Today, President Samir Xaud signaled something very important: the CBF’s focus is on the culture of integrity, which encompasses a broad spectrum, not only competition manipulation, but also homophobia, racism, domestic violence, and violence inside and outside stadiums. Everything surrounding football itself is important for the preservation and development of citizenship.”
