Brazil Creates Task Force to Combat Match-Fixing in Sports

Brazil has set up a new interministerial working group to address one of the biggest threats to fair play in national sports: match-fixing. The joint initiative brings together the Ministries of Finance, Sport, and Justice, reflecting the urgency of the issue at both sporting and regulatory levels.

Good to know

• The group will draft the country’s first National Policy for Combating Match-Fixing.
• Training for 54 Civil and Federal Police delegates will be part of the first phase.
• The project will run for six months, with an option for extension.

The Ministry of Finance is represented by the Secretary of Prizes and Betting (SPA), the agency responsible for overseeing Brazil’s regulated wagering market. SPA Secretary Regis Dudena did not mince words about the risks. He stated:

“The risks of manipulation of sports results are a threat to the credibility of sport, as they affect something that is central: unpredictability. Such illegal actions can negatively impact society as a whole, which is why a forum like this is so important.” 

The mission of the working group is to draft a national policy aimed at confronting manipulation in competitions. Brazil Minister of Sport André Fufuca said:

“This measure reinforces that the government understands the urgency of addressing such a complex issue. It is essential to act together at the national level to move in the same direction and confront the manipulation of competitions.”

The coordination will be led by Giovanni Rocco, Brazil’s National Secretary for Sports Betting and Economic Development of Sport. He underlined the importance of protecting athletes and preserving the integrity of competition as the group’s central goals.

The task force’s initial step will be a technical meeting at the national level, where 54 Civil and Federal Police delegates will receive specialized training. The group is expected to operate for six months, though officials left the door open for another six months if necessary.

On the same day the group was announced, the government also revealed progress on a new responsible gambling tool designed to help players manage betting activity across licensed platforms. Both initiatives signal that authorities are trying to balance industry growth with safeguards for both players and sports integrity.