30 January 2026, Asunción, Paraguay- The South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) and the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) are reinforcing their partnership this season with an in-person integrity education training programme, as part of their shared fight against match-fixing.
As part of this collaboration, more than 100 CONMEBOL referees are participating this month in a dedicated sports betting integrity education programme, delivered through the Ethics, Compliance and Integrity Directorate Session. It is providing practical, face-to-face and real-world training on how integrity can be threatened and, crucially, how it can be actively protected - placing referees at the center of football’s frontline response to addressing the risk of sports betting related match-fixing.
Led by Jean-François Reymond, IBIA’s Education Ambassador, the sessions address criminal approaches, the misuse of sensitive information, and the betting regulations officials must understand to safeguard their careers, including the serious consequences of violations. Referees receive concrete tools, clear reporting pathways, and practical insight into how manipulation attempts develop in practice.
As Latin America’s betting market continues to grow, the initiative underscores the importance to strengthen sports integrity and reflects a shared commitment to treating protection of competition as an operational responsibility, built through daily cooperation, not reactive measures. Match-fixing never begins with a headline. It starts quietly, through pressure, familiarity, and silence. Education breaks that cycle early, ensuring those closest to the action are informed, alert, and supported.
Graciela Garay, Director of Ethics, Compliance and Integrity at CONMEBOL, said: "Integrity is not an abstract value, it is a governance priority and a strategic pillar of football development. By placing education at the center of our integrity framework, we are empowering referees with the knowledge, confidence and institutional backing they need to act decisively. This proactive approach strengthens trust, protects our competitions and reinforces CONMEBOL’s long-term commitment to transparency, credibility and fair play across South American football."
Jean-François Reymond, IBIA Education Ambassador, said: "Referees are not just enforcers of the rules, they are guardians of the competition itself. Education gives them clarity, confidence, and protection. When officials understand how manipulation works and how to respond, the space for match-fixing shrinks dramatically. As the global standard setter for athlete education on betting integrity, we are very excited to be working closely with CONMEBOL and their Ethics, Compliance and Integrity Department because of their commitment to creating a culture of integrity in football."
By embedding education within a broader integrity partnership, CONMEBOL and IBIA reaffirm a clear concept: protecting football requires long-term commitment, shared accountability, and continuous investment in awareness and resilience across every level of the game.
This education programme adds an additional layer to the ongoing integrity collaboration between CONMEBOL and IBIA, which includes the exchange of suspicious betting alerts through IBIA’s Global Monitoring and Alert Platform (Global MAP) and enhanced cooperation via CONMEBOL’s monitoring group.
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