The South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) and the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) are reinforcing their partnership this season through the launch of an in person integrity education programme aimed at preventing match fixing and protecting football competitions.
As part of the joint initiative, more than 100 CONMEBOL referees are taking part this month in a dedicated sports betting integrity education programme, delivered through the Ethics, Compliance and Integrity Directorate sessions. The programme provides practical, face to face training based on real world scenarios, addressing how integrity can be threatened and, most importantly, how it can be actively protected, positioning referees as key frontline actors in football’s response to betting related risks.
Led by Jean François Reymond, IBIA Education Ambassador, the sessions cover criminal approaches, the misuse of sensitive information and the betting regulations officials must understand to protect their professional careers, including the serious consequences of any breaches. Referees are equipped with concrete tools, clear reporting channels and practical insight into how manipulation attempts unfold in practice.
As Latin America’s betting market continues to expand, the initiative highlights the importance of strengthening sports integrity and reflects a shared commitment to treating the protection of competitions as an ongoing operational responsibility, built through daily cooperation rather than reactive measures. Match fixing does not begin with headlines. It starts quietly, through pressure, familiarity and silence. Education breaks this cycle early, ensuring those closest to the action are informed, alert and supported.
Graciela Garay, Director of Ethics, Compliance and Integrity at CONMEBOL, stated that integrity is not an abstract value but a governance priority and a strategic pillar of football development. She emphasized that placing education at the core of the integrity framework empowers referees with the knowledge, confidence and institutional backing they need to act decisively, strengthening trust, protecting competitions and reinforcing CONMEBOL’s long term commitment to transparency, credibility and fair play across South American football.
Jean François Reymond, IBIA Education Ambassador, noted that referees are not only enforcers of the rules but guardians of the competition itself. He explained that education provides clarity, confidence and protection, significantly reducing the space for match fixing when officials understand how manipulation works and how to respond. He also expressed IBIA’s enthusiasm for working closely with CONMEBOL and its Ethics, Compliance and Integrity Department, highlighting their shared commitment to building a strong culture of integrity in football.
By embedding education within a broader integrity partnership, CONMEBOL and IBIA reaffirm a clear principle: protecting football requires long term commitment, shared accountability and continuous investment in awareness and resilience at every level of the game.
This education programme further strengthens the ongoing integrity collaboration between CONMEBOL and IBIA, which includes the exchange of suspicious betting alerts through IBIA’s Global Monitoring and Alert Platform and enhanced cooperation via CONMEBOL’s monitoring group.
