Read the highlights of SIGA’s Global CEO Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros interview with A Bola
SIGA’s Global CEO Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros was interviewed for the Portuguese daily newspaper A Bola and A Bola TV. In a 45-minute talk with journalist João Pimpim, he was asked about the upcoming disclosure of Liga Portugal’s SIRVS certification process, and financial transparency, among many other critical topics.
Read the interview on A Bola’s website (in Portuguese), and check some highlights below.
Liga Portugal and SIRVS (SIGA Independent Rating & Verification System)
Like other leagues, Liga Portugal is the pinnacle of football in its country, as it encompasses the aspects of entertainment, commercialisation, and professionalism. It has demonstrated tremendous leadership spirit by approaching us and signing a protocol to audit its practices at various levels. It is a scrutiny conducted by an independent entity voluntarily undertaken by Liga Portugal, and it is now in its final phase. Essentially, Liga Portugal recognised the power of integrity in its practices and how certification can attract audiences, sponsors, or investors who want to associate themselves with a transparent organisation that upholds integrity.
Liga Portugal’s decision to voluntarily undergo the scrutiny of its transparency, integrity of practices, and governance is absolutely revolutionary. To have the Portuguese league as the first professional league to adhere to SIGA’s Universal Standards and submit itself to the scrutiny of SIRVS is an assertion of leadership, maturity, and a strong indication of a globally pioneering league in integrity and transparency. It demonstrates their commitment to progress and their willingness to adopt best practices. This is what fans want, what clubs deserve, and what governments expect.
Financial Transparency vs criminal activity
SIGA fights against opacity in Sport! Football being the most universal sport attracts a lot of criminal activity. We need to know the ultimate beneficial owners names, the final destination of the money. We need to know who is behind funds based in tax havens or in nebulous areas where there is no legislation or regulation. I am not saying that I want football’s future to be determined by the media or police authorities. However, what I do not want is football run by mafias or organised crime. I don’t want that and I will always fight against it. That often leaves me isolated, but I have never wavered, I have always fought for principles.
A Clearing House for player transfers
For the past 20 years, I have been advocating for a ‘Clearing House’ for player transfers. This independent entity would certify investor credentials, the origins of capital, and financial flows. And I don’t understand why it doesn’t exist yet. I don’t understand the industry’s resistance to transfer control. Player transactions are the cause of major club debts and the inflationary pressures in football.
Economic, cultural and social role of football brings increased responsibility
Football is going through a period of profound change, not only in terms of its globalisation and economic dimension but also in relation to the social and cultural role it plays. And that brings an increased level of responsibility. It is in this field that organisations must lead by example. And that example lies in the parameters proposed by SIGA, which is a world leader in Good Governance and Integrity in Sport. Our system addresses all of this and, above all, meets the demands of sponsors, whose expectations are increasingly higher, and of fans who increasingly seek sporting truth. Seven years later, SIGA guarantees the trust and support that sports deserve from public or private entities that wish to associate themselves with it.
ABOUT SIGA
SIGA is the world’s leading organisation for Sport Integrity. We are creating a whole new landscape for the sports industry by delivering independent global rating and certification for world Sport to ensure it is governed and operates under the highest integrity standards: The SIGA Universal Standards.
Funded by our Members, SIGA is a non for profit global independent organisation with one aim: To ensure the sport industry is governed under the highest integrity standards so that the values of sport are protected.
SIGA is the only organisation to bring together sport, governments, academia, international organisations, sponsors, business, rights holders, NGOs and professional services companies, from every region in the world, around a common cause of fostering greater integrity throughout sport.
SIGA is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, as a non for-profit association, and comprises of the following continental subsidiaries: SIGA AMERICA, SIGA EUROPE and SIGA LATIN AMERICA.
For more information on SIGA, including its vision, mission and reform agenda, please refer to the website: www.siga-sport.com and FAQs.
To contact SIGA, please email: comms@siga-sport.com.
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