Brazil joins Macolin treaty against sports match-fixing

Brazil has become the first country in the Americas to sign the Council of Europe’s Macolin Convention, which aims to prevent and fight against the manipulation of sports results.

The signing took place in Strasbourg on Friday, October 30, 2026. Brazil confirmed its plan to join the treaty in September 2025, after the National Secretariat of Sports Betting supported accession in a technical statement. In March 2026, the government also launched a national policy against match-fixing, coordinated by the Ministry of Sport with input from the Ministries of Finance and Justice and the Federal Police.

Giovanni Rocco, Brazil’s National Secretary of Sports Betting, said:

“Now, with the signing of the Macolin Convention, we are expanding the possibilities for international cooperation. This work strengthens the fight against fraud and helps protect athletes, clubs and fans.”

The convention was opened for signature in Macolin, Switzerland, in 2014. It came into force in September 2019 and counted 43 signatories by September 2026, 17 of which had ratified it. It covers cross-border information sharing, monitoring of suspicious betting, and a national platform in each country to coordinate efforts.

To become a full State Party, Brazil still needs approval from the National Congress, followed by formal ratification under the country’s procedures for international treaties.