The SIGA Football Integrity Forum returns to Portugal on 23 September 2026, bringing together senior leaders and experts from football, regulation, sports betting, technology, and broadcasting for a high-level discussion on some of the most pressing integrity challenges facing the global game.
Organised by the Sport Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA), the Forum will be hosted by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) at Cidade do Futebol, in Oeiras, as part of the Portugal Football Summit.
The 2026 edition will focus on three critical areas for the future of football: Sports Betting Integrity and the protection of sport and people; Good Governance and the need to move from commitments to demonstrable impact through independent verification; and the growing threat of digital piracy alongside the technological transformation of sports broadcasting.
Football is navigating a period of profound transformation. Evolving regulatory frameworks, technological disruption, changing economic models and growing expectations around transparency, accountability and responsible leadership are reshaping how the game is governed, financed and protected.
These developments are placing greater responsibility on sports organisations to demonstrate that their commitments to integrity and Good Governance are not merely stated, but effectively implemented, independently assessed and continuously improved.
At the same time, the rapid evolution of the betting and digital ecosystems is creating new integrity challenges, from match manipulation and gambling-related harm to increasingly sophisticated forms of illegal streaming and piracy.
Against this backdrop, the SIGA Football Integrity Forum 2026 will bring together decision-makers from across the sports ecosystem to identify practical solutions, foster collaboration and strengthen the integrity, credibility and long-term sustainability of football.
Senior representatives from LaLiga, Liga Portugal, European Aquatics, APAJO, EPIC Global Solutions, LiveMode, and StreamAMG are among the confirmed speakers for the Forum, which will take place from 15:00 to 17:30 on the GALP Stage.
Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros, Co-Founder and Global CEO of SIGA, will open the Forum with a keynote address.
PROGRAMME
15:00 – 15:10 | Keynote Address
- Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros
Co-Founder & Global CEO, SIGA
15:10 – 15:50 | Sports Betting Integrity — Protecting Sport, Protecting People
The fight against match manipulation and betting-related corruption remains a fundamental priority, while growing attention is also being placed on gambling-related harm, consumer protection, responsible betting, technological innovation and safeguarding vulnerable individuals.
This session will examine how cooperation between sports organisations, regulators, betting operators, public authorities and integrity experts can strengthen Sports Betting Integrity and contribute to a safer, more transparent and sustainable sporting ecosystem.
Speakers
- Paul Buck
CEO, EPIC Global Solutions - Iñaki Arbea Sarasa
Integrity Deputy Director, LaLiga - Ricardo Domingues
President, APAJO - João Paulo Almeida — Moderator
Co-Chair, SIGA Permanent Committee on Sports Betting Integrity
16:00 – 16:40 | Good Governance and Independent Verification — From Commitment to Demonstrable Impact
Good Governance is now an operational necessity. Sports organisations must demonstrate not only that robust governance frameworks exist, but that they are effectively implemented, independently assessed and continuously improved.
Through initiatives such as the SIGA Independent Rating and Verification System (SIRVS), organisations can benchmark their performance against internationally recognised standards and strengthen credibility, resilience and stakeholder confidence.
Speakers
- Andrew Mercer
General Counsel and Director of Legal Affairs, AFC - Gianni Minervini
Acting Executive Director, European Aquatics - Roberto Fiore
Partner, LP Avvocati; Member, SIGA Council - Katie Simmonds — Moderator
Global Chief Commercial Officer, SIGA; Chair, SIGAWomen Council
16:50 – 17:30 | Piracy, Technology and the Future of Sports Broadcasting
Illegal streaming and digital piracy threaten the sustainability of the sports ecosystem by undermining broadcasters, rights holders, competitions, clubs and athletes, reducing the commercial value that enables continued investment and growth.
As piracy becomes increasingly sophisticated, effective responses require cooperation between rights holders, broadcasters, technology providers, regulators, policymakers and enforcement authorities.
This session will examine how innovation, regulation, collaboration and stronger protection mechanisms can preserve the long-term value, integrity and sustainability of sports broadcasting.
Speakers
- André Mosqueira Amaral
CEO, Liga Portugal - Sam Stewart
Director of Product, StreamAMG - Nuno Perestrelo — Moderator
Senior Director of Communication, Media & Thought Leadership, SIGA
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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.
