Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros, SIGA’s Global CEO and SIGA LATIN AMERICA Chairman and CEO, was the guest keynote speaker at the Brazilian Congress’ inaugural public hearing and official launch of the Parliamentary Coalition on the Modernisation of Football, which took place on Thursday 15th June in Brasilia.
With Brazil currently facing the need to regulate professional sports, Congressman Bandeira de Mello invited SIGA’s Global CEO to share his vision and strategic insights on the future of football, including at the professional level, in Brazil. Sharing his extensive knowledge and expertise that he has accumulated from over 30 years in the global football field, including holding senior leadership roles, such as co-founder and CEO of the European Professional Football Leagues and the World League Association, and as a long standing member of UEFA Professional Football Strategy Council and FIFA Football Committe, there was much to articulate.
During his address, Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros highlighted that “not many countries in the world have dignified the status of sport to the extent of having a ministry. This is an essential condition that other countries should follow. It recognises a sector that contributes to the creation of national wealth, the affirmation of national values, the exaltation of collective passions, and people’s and countries’ self-esteem.”
Drawing upon his three decades of experience leading football organisations, Macedo de Medeiros asserted that “poor governance is a threat to the future of football. We must acknowledge that football is not just a game or a regular business. It’s a cluster where multiple sectors coexist, including sports, medicine, law, psychology, technology, innovation and so many others. This unique cluster, which is responsible for economic growth, human development and social inclusion, faces 21st-century problems that require 21st-century solutions. Weak governance, inadequate regulation, lack of oversight, and independent scrutiny are detrimental to a sustainable future and football’s credibility, and pride in its own governance. The passion of fans and the trust of investors of the whole cluster depend on integrity. Without integrity, there is no sport, there’s no investment, there’s no future. This must be our number one priority.”
With the support of 212 parliamentarians, including Congressmen and Senators, the Parliamentary Coalition for the Modernisation of Football will engage in discussions on various aspects of the football industry. These include, but are not limited to, the financial dimension, club governance, integrity and ESG actions, creation of the professional league , broadcasting rights, stadium violence, and the match calendar. Congressman Eduardo Bandeira de Mello stressed that “SIGA will be a permanent partner of the Parliamentary Coalition for the Modernisation of Football. Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros has several decades of experience in Europe and beyond, where progress has been made on many of the issues we aim to address in Brazil. His expertise offers a future vision, reflecting our aspirations for Brazilian football.”
In addition to SIGA’s Global CEO Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros, the hearing, at the invitation of Deputy Eduardo Bandeira de Mello, the speakers’ lineup also included Alcino Rocha, Secretary-General of CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation), Lucio Flavio Vale da Silva, the Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Sports, and Rubem Cesar, representing the Academy Black Pearls (Academia Pérolas Negras).
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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.
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