Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros, Global CEO of SIGA and Chairman & CEO of SIGA LATIN AMERICA, spoke with SBC Notícias Brasil about key initiatives promoted by SIGA across the Latin American region. This includes responsible sponsorship guidelines for betting operators, strategic cooperation with governments, and the role of SIGA’s Universal Standards in strengthening Sport Integrity.
This is the first part of the interview, in which Medeiros discusses the motivation behind the creation of the betting sponsorship guidelines, the implementation of SIGA’s Universal Standards, and the launch of the FAIR Platform – Forum on Betting, Integrity and Regulation.
He also explains how the SIGA Independent Rating and Verification System (SIRVS) ensures transparency and accountability within the sports ecosystem, restoring public trust and protecting investments.
The second part of the interview will be published on 3 July.
Click to read the Interview by Elisa Marcante, journalist at SBC Notícias, in Portuguese.
Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros, SIGA: Ethics and Transparency Are Essential in Sport
The Sport Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA) is a global, independent, and non-profit organization dedicated to promoting integrity in sport. To implement its integrity standards across Latin America, SIGA operates through its regional branch – SIGA LATIN AMERICA.
SBC Notícias Brasil spoke with Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros, Co-Founder and Global CEO of SIGA, as well as Chairman and CEO of SIGA LATIN AMERICA, about the organization’s initiatives in the region. Topics included responsible sponsorship guidelines, institutional partnerships with the Brazilian government, and the ongoing strategic study on national football.
Responsible Sponsorship Guidelines, Universal Standards, and the FAIR Platform
In 2024, SIGA LATIN AMERICA developed guidelines to assist betting operators and sports organizations with the goal of promoting legal certainty and safeguarding sport integrity.
Medeiros explained that the initiative emerged “spontaneously” to fill a recognized gap and respond to growing sector demands. Under the leadership of Dr. Paulo Schmit, Chair of the Permanent Committee on Sports Betting and Integrity at SIGA LATIN AMERICA, a group of experts came together to draft the document.
“From the very beginning, we were strongly motivated to provide guidance, recommendations, and direction to both operators and sports entities, so that together we could bring clarity and stability and protect the integrity of sport,” said Medeiros.
He emphasized that SIGA’s role goes beyond advocacy, working hands-on with stakeholders to strengthen and enhance the sector’s credibility.
“We are an action-driven initiative, committed to standing alongside stakeholders, helping, supporting, and guiding their steps so that together we can build a stronger, more credible, and more vibrant sector,” he added.
The implementation of the guidelines is being rolled out in phases. According to Medeiros, the first phase coincided with the Paris Olympic Games and focused on raising awareness in the industry.
SIGA LATIN AMERICA is now turning its attention to enhancing the guidelines and expanding their application within a broader set of Universal Standards on sports betting and integrity — both in traditional and digital sport.
“In addition to producing and publishing our Universal Standards — which serve as the compass and silver bullet for the entire industry — we are working to provide education, training, and capacity building for all involved parties,” Medeiros explained.
SIGA Universal Standards and the Independent Rating System (SIRVS)
Beyond guiding the market, SIGA’s objective is to offer capacity building and an Independent Rating and Verification System (SIRVS) that assesses compliance with these requirements. According to Medeiros, this tool is essential for the industry, as it helps identify companies that meet SIGA’s Universal Standards and enables corrective action where needed — ultimately restoring trust among individuals and institutions.
SIGA’s Universal Standards operate across five interlinked strategic areas: good governance, financial integrity, sports betting integrity, youth development and protection in sport, and sustainability (currently under development).
Medeiros noted that sports organizations are invited to adopt these standards and undergo independent assessment through SIRVS, conducted by a panel of globally renowned experts. The goal is to evaluate each organization’s level of compliance with SIGA’s established criteria.
The results are publicly disclosed, providing transparency around the integrity and governance of these entities.
“For the first time in history, sports organizations now have objective tools to demonstrate their integrity, good governance, and overall credibility,” stated the CEO.
He also emphasized that fans, governments, sponsors, and operators can trust that SIGA, through SIRVS, ensures that investments and reputations are protected when linked to serious and responsible sports organizations. Transparency and oversight, he said, have the power to positively transform the sector, delivering greater credibility and integrity in sport.
“This changes the game entirely — and for the better,” said Medeiros.
The FAIR Platform: Promoting Sports Integrity
At the end of April 2025, SIGA LATIN AMERICA launched the FAIR Platform — the Forum on Betting, Integrity and Regulation — with the goal of fostering integrity in sport.
FAIR was created to promote a collaborative environment between members and operators, facilitating the exchange of advanced information and strengthening governance across the sector.
The platform seeks to unite stakeholders around a shared vision to protect and enhance sport integrity. According to Medeiros, the initiative reflects a joint commitment — between SIGA and its partners — to reinforce credibility in sport.
“The platform is managed directly by SIGA, but it operates informally. It will have a steering committee composed of representatives from SIGA and individuals appointed by betting operators. While it is not a statutory body, it was created as a space for dialogue, the exchange of best practices, identification of shared challenges, and collaborative development of solutions to strengthen integrity in the sector,” the CEO explained.
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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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