The Brazilian Ministry of Sports has formalised a critical partnership with Sportradar Group AG, a global leader in sports technology.
Both organisations have signed a Technical Cooperation Agreement (ACT) aimed squarely at safeguarding the integrity of Brazilian sports and combating the rising threat of match-fixing.
The agreement is particularly significant given the nation’s rapidly expanding regulated sports betting landscape.
This landmark agreement has established a comprehensive framework for collaboration, designed to protect the fairness and transparency of sporting competitions across Brazil. The Ministry views this partnership as a crucial step in enhancing its capabilities to identify, prevent, and investigate integrity threats effectively.
Under the terms of the ACT, Sportradar will provide specialised support to the Ministry. A key component of this support is granting access to Sportradar’s state-of-the-art Universal Fraud Detection System (UFDS). This sophisticated global monitoring tool analyses betting patterns across numerous markets worldwide to identify suspicious activities that may indicate potential match manipulation.
Beyond technological support, Sportradar will also deliver comprehensive education and training programs for Ministry personnel and staff. These sessions are designed to equip officials with the necessary expertise and methodologies for effectively monitoring the betting market, identifying suspicious activities, and conducting thorough investigations. A key initial workshop, held on May 15, underscored a coordinated governmental approach, notably including representatives from the Brazilian Ministry of Finance, highlighting the inter-agency effort needed to address betting integrity.
André Fufuca, Brazil’s Minister of Sport, commented on the significance of the partnership and said, “Today we signed a milestone agreement in the fight against match-fixing in Brazilian sports. Integrity must be a constant principle when it comes to transparency, ethics, and, above all, the fairness of sports results. With this agreement, we will have tools to curb this practice and ensure greater transparency in competitions. This way, athletes, clubs, organisations, fans, and the entire population will be able to trust the fairness of the outcomes and, in turn, have the confidence to unlock the full potential of Brazilian sports.”
Andreas Krannich, EVP, Integrity and Regulatory Services, Sportradar, added, “Establishing this partnership with the Ministry of Sports is an important milestone in strengthening sports integrity in Brazil. As a global integrity leader, leveraging cutting-edge technology to prevent and combat match-fixing, we believe that protecting competitions requires coordinated action between the public and private sectors. Through this collaboration, Sportradar continues to reaffirm its commitment to a more transparent and safer sports environment for the athletes and all the stakeholders involved in Brazilian sports.
This ACT with the Ministry of Sports complements Sportradar’s extensive existing integrity work in Brazil. The company already holds partnerships with prominent sports bodies such as the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) and the Brazilian Volleyball Confederation (CBV), as well as the Goiás State Attorney’s Office and relationships with soccer federations in 17 Brazilian states. This established network reinforces the focus on protecting sports integrity nationwide.
The initiative aligns with the Brazilian government’s broader push to establish a robust integrity framework as it regulates its burgeoning sports betting market. The Ministry of Sports has also recently entered into similar cooperation agreements with other international integrity organisations, signalling a comprehensive strategy to protect Brazilian sports from manipulation and fraud. Ultimately, this partnership seeks to bolster trust in Brazilian sports results and ensure a fair and transparent environment for athletes, clubs, fans, and the entire sports ecosystem as the country’s regulated betting market matures.
