Brazil Signs Convention Against Sports Manipulation

Brazil became the first Latin American country to sign the Council of Europe's Macolin Convention. The signing ceremony took place at the Council of Europe headquarters in Strasbourg. On behalf of the Brazilian government, the convention was signed by Ricardo Neiva Tavares, ambassador to France and Monaco. Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset also attended the ceremony.

Brazil is the 44th country to sign the convention. According to the Council, 17 parties have ratified it. Participants from outside Europe include Australia and Morocco.

The convention is the only legally binding international instrument targeting the manipulation of sports competitions. It establishes a cooperation framework covering governments, public bodies, sports organizations, organizers and betting operators. Information sharing, monitoring of suspicious activity, and national coordination mechanisms for cross-border cases are also within the scope of the text. Each party is obliged to set up a national platform to centralize communication among the relevant bodies.

Brazil's National Secretary of Sport, Giovanni Rocco, said the country had taken a step toward protecting sporting integrity with the convention. Rocco recalled that Brazil had previously implemented a policy to prevent and combat sports manipulation. He stated that the convention would expand international cooperation and strengthen the fight against fraud.