The Sport Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA) welcomes the Portuguese side Vitória Sport Clube as the first European Professional Football Club to formally join the global coalition as a full Member, following the notable addition of Brazilian giant São Paulo FC, as the pioneer among football clubs.
Vitória Sport Clube’s commitment to upholding the highest integrity standards in sport aligns seamlessly with SIGA’s mission to advance Good Governance, Financial Integrity and Transparency, Sports Betting Integrity, and Youth Development and Protection in Sport. With over 150 members and committed supporters worldwide, SIGA stands out as the world’s largest independent, neutral, multi-stakeholder global coalition in the field of Sport Integrity.
The addition of Vitória Sport Clube to SIGA’s global membership base exemplifies the continued expansion and growing influence of the alliance in reshaping football’s governance landscape. In August 2023, Liga Portugal became the first European professional football league to adopt SIGA’s Universal Standards on Good Governance in Sport and go through SIRVS, having been awarded with a Bronze Certificate.
With one of the largest supporters base in the country and a distinct sporting history, the Portuguese Premier League’s iconic club is based in the historic city of Guimarães, the birthplace of Portugal as a sovereign country. It will now join a wealth of key stakeholders from the world of Sport, governments, international organizations, global business and civil society – all united by SIGA’s vision of a Sport’s industry free from unethical, illicit, and criminal activities.
This partnership marks a significant milestone for both SIGA and Vitória Sport Clube, reinforcing both entities commitment to fostering a culture of integrity within Portuguese and European football. The collaboration between SIGA and Vitória Sport Clube will further strengthen the implementation, compliance and independent scrutiny of the world’s best-in-class universal standards on Sport Integrity.
Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros, Global CEO, SIGA, welcomed Vitória SC to the coalition and stated:
“Vitória Sport Clube’s decision to join SIGA and actively support our reform agenda is worthy of our recognition. Clubs are the basic cells of football. As custodians of the game’s reputation and credibility, they have the indeclinable responsibility to uphold the values of integrity, honesty and fair play, both on and off the pitch. By joining SIGA and committing to implement our Universal Standards and go through SIRVS, Vitória leads by example and sets the bar for other Portuguese and European football clubs. We are certain that their footsteps will be followed and look forward to working with them.
On this momentous occasion, I would like to congratulate António Miguel Cardoso for taking this leading step and extend an invitation to all clubs and all individuals who run, play and invest in football, whether it is their money and reputation or simply their passion: don´t just talk the talk. Show what you are really made of, give a step forward and walk the walk! Side with SIGA, implement our Universal Standards on Sport Integrity and go through SIRVS. The time is now.”
António Miguel Cardoso, Vitória Sport Clube president, added:
“I‘m very proud of this partnership. I’m pretty sure this is an important step for Vitória Sport Clube in defending the principles that have always guided this Club. Ethics and loyalty are non-negotiable values and, as President of Vitória, I will always be on the side of those who fight sports corruption with no fear. Emanuel Macedo Medeiros is someone I met for the first time many years ago, and I recognize in him the leadership skills to run SIGA’s interests. I would like to congratulate him for his courage and, above all, for the integrity of the organization that he leads.”
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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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