Brazil has become the first South American nation to take full membership of the Macolin Convention, bolstering collaborative efforts against match-fixing and sports corruption.

The Macolin Convention, formally known as the Council of Europe Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions, is the only legally binding international treaty designed to combat match-fixing. It facilitates cooperation between governments, law enforcement, betting regulators, and sports organisations.

Though established by the Council of Europe, the Convention is open to global membership making Brazil’s entry a significant milestone as the first South American nation to join the Macolin charter. 

The decision was supported by Brazil’s Ministries of Sport, Finance, and Justice and Public Security, signalling a coordinated national approach to protecting the integrity of sport.

“The Lula government is committed to ensuring that Brazilians feel protected and have confidence in our system of monitoring sports betting,” said Minister of Sport André Fufuca. “We will not allow the online betting environment to be taken over by illegal operators.”

Giovanni Rocco, Brazil’s National Secretary for Sports Betting and Economic Development, called the move “strategic,” highlighting the transnational nature of match-fixing and the importance of data-sharing with international partners.

“This integration with Europe will allow us to adopt much more effective measures to combat match-fixing,” Rocco said.

Rio hosts Macolin intelligence summit

Brazil’s membership comes on the heels of a major international event: in August, Rio de Janeiro hosted the 20th intelligence seminar for Macolin Convention members, organised by FIFA and the Centre International d’Étude du Sport (CIES). 

The timing of Brazil’s accession coincides with a broader regulatory transformation. 2025 has been a landmark year for Brazil’s legal framework, particularly around sports integrity. Legislative reforms were necessary to support the rollout of the Bets Regime—a new legal structure that regulates fixed-odds betting markets.

The new laws place sports integrity at the core of Brazil’s betting oversight, ensuring that operators, leagues, and regulators are subject to rigorous scrutiny by Congress and the Senate.

CBF backs ‘Big Mac’ collaborations

The Brazil Football Confederation (CBF) became the first sports body to publicly welcome Brazil’s accession to the Macolin Convention, reinforcing its stance on integrity in sport.

In a statement issued last week, the CBF praised the joint initiative of the Ministries of Sport, Finance, and Justice, and reaffirmed its own commitment to fighting manipulation in football. The federation’s Integrity Unit, established two years ago, plays a central role in detecting and preventing betting-related crimes in the sport.

“We want to bring greater transparency to football and put an end to this issue, which significantly harms the sport in Brazil and around the world,” said CBF President Samir Xaud. “We will do everything within our power, as an institution, to combat match-fixing with absolute rigour.”

CBF Integrity Officer Eduardo Gussem added that the organisation remains committed to restoring public trust and protecting the integrity of Brazilian football.

“The creation of this department reaffirms the purpose of contributing to initiatives and projects that aim to strengthen the bond of trust between the passion of fans and the practice of football,” said Gussem. “We will always favour the uncertainty of the outcome and protect the fairness and impartiality of competitions.”