As the FIFA World Cup commands global attention, Integrity Voices looks beyond the pitch — to the values, choices and leadership shaping the future of Sport.
Four leaders. Five questions. Four perspectives from across the global game.
A platform for our Members. A forum for dialogue. A contribution to the global conversation on Sport Integrity — at a moment when Football has the world’s full attention.
David Luna
CEO, International Coalition Against Illicit Economies (ICAIE)
Among the biggest threats facing the international sports community is the infiltration of professional soccer by transnational criminal networks, including across major leagues and clubs. Such criminal infiltration is also present in other sports, where global betting, match-fixing and money laundering remain significant challenges. The abuse of Sport by such bad actors and threat networks directly imperils the ethical core of Sport.
Miguel Gouveia de Brito
CEO, Trueclinic (SIGA Member); Vice-Chair, SIGA Council
Match-fixing and doping remain the most critical integrity threats. Both undermine fair competition, damage the credibility of sport, and erode the trust of fans, athletes, sponsors, and society at large. Preventing the manipulation of results and ensuring clean competition must remain a top priority throughout the World Cup.
Olga Garcia
SIGA Champion; Football Analyst, RTVE; Football Analyst, 2CAT; Former Professional Footballer, Spain Women’s National Team; Former Player, FC Barcelona, Levante UD and Atlético de Madrid
The most important integrity issue is trust. The World Cup is football’s biggest stage, and every decision, action and message is amplified globally. Whether the issue concerns governance, officiating, betting, athlete welfare or communication, the industry must ensure that fans can trust what they are watching. Once trust is lost, it is extremely difficult to rebuild. Trust is the foundation on which the future of sport depends.
Pablo Perel
Member, SIGA Permanent Committee on Gender, Race, Inclusion and Diversity (GRID)
The main challenge that brings us together is to work collectively in support of integration strategies. We must promote a vision of global citizenship capable of creatively confronting the rise of hate speech and discriminatory practices.
David Luna
CEO, International Coalition Against Illicit Economies (ICAIE)
The purity of sport and fair play in the administration of sport are noble ideals that must not be corrupted or tainted by criminal influences.
Miguel Gouveia de Brito
CEO, Trueclinic (SIGA Member); Vice-Chair, SIGA Council
Doing the right thing consistently — acting with honesty, fairness, and accountability, both on and off the field.
Olga Garcia
SIGA Champion; Football Analyst, RTVE; Football Analyst, 2CAT; Former Professional Footballer, Spain Women’s National Team; Former Player, FC Barcelona, Levante UD and Atlético de Madrid
Sport has never been more global, influential or connected than it is today. With that growth comes greater responsibility and increasingly complex challenges, from governance and transparency to athlete welfare, betting-related risks and public trust. An independent, global movement like SIGA is more relevant than ever because it brings stakeholders together around common standards and shared values. Integrity cannot be the responsibility of one organisation alone; it requires collective action.
Pablo Perel
Member, SIGA Permanent Committee on Gender, Race, Inclusion and Diversity (GRID)
Sport Integrity is a fundamental pillar for advancing rights through an interdisciplinary approach. Future generations will undoubtedly be able to build democratic citizenship on the basis of the values of sport: integrity, altruism, teamwork, solidarity and commitment.
David Luna
CEO, International Coalition Against Illicit Economies (ICAIE)
We must continue to increase international cooperation to investigate and prosecute networks of corruption and criminality across sport; confiscate the illicit proceeds of complicit actors; and provide FIFA and other sports organisations with greater anti-crime capacities, including effective training to detect corruption and crime in the first instance as part of preventive measures.
Miguel Gouveia de Brito
CEO, Trueclinic (SIGA Member); Vice-Chair, SIGA Council
By ensuring transparency, independent oversight, and zero tolerance for corruption, match-fixing, and doping. Trust grows when rules are enforced fairly and consistently.
Olga Garcia
SIGA Champion; Football Analyst, RTVE; Football Analyst, 2CAT; Former Professional Footballer, Spain Women’s National Team; Former Player, FC Barcelona, Levante UD and Atlético de Madrid
Sport protects trust through transparency, consistency and leadership. Decisions must be explained clearly, governance must be accountable, and athletes must feel safe and supported. Fans, sponsors and society do not expect perfection, but they do expect honesty. When organisations communicate openly and act in accordance with their values, they build credibility and strengthen confidence in sport.
Pablo Perel
Member, SIGA Permanent Committee on Gender, Race, Inclusion and Diversity (GRID)
By bringing together experts from different backgrounds to deliver workshops focused on the promotion and protection of human rights in sport. It is essential to work with young people, legal professionals, athletes and leaders of sports institutions at global level. To achieve this, it would be desirable to build partnerships with universities and public bodies, including the judiciary, parliaments and other relevant institutions.
David Luna
CEO, International Coalition Against Illicit Economies (ICAIE)
Trust and accountability are critical to strengthening collective efforts to counter illicit activities within Sport today and to safeguarding the integrity of sport against corruption and criminality, especially through dynamic public-private partnerships.
Miguel Gouveia de Brito
CEO, Trueclinic (SIGA Member); Vice-Chair, SIGA Council
Sports organisations should implement stronger and consistently enforced sanctions for match-fixing, doping, and discriminatory behaviour. Clear consequences send a strong message that integrity violations will not be tolerated and help protect the credibility of sport.
Olga Garcia
SIGA Champion; Football Analyst, RTVE; Football Analyst, 2CAT; Former Professional Footballer, Spain Women’s National Team; Former Player, FC Barcelona, Levante UD and Atlético de Madrid
Integrity cannot be treated as an event-specific priority. One practical step is to make integrity education a permanent part of every organisation, from boardrooms to academies. Regular training, clear reporting mechanisms and a culture that encourages people to speak up help ensure that integrity becomes part of daily decision-making, rather than a reaction to crises. Lasting integrity is built through consistent action, not occasional attention.
Pablo Perel
Member, SIGA Permanent Committee on Gender, Race, Inclusion and Diversity (GRID)
They should create dedicated spaces within stadiums to promote democratic values, alongside the appointment of observers who can identify and report situations involving racism or discrimination of any kind.
David Luna
CEO, International Coalition Against Illicit Economies (ICAIE)
A strong, independent body such as SIGA is needed more than ever to fight corruption and organised crime in sport through accountability, transparency and compliance, and to promote cultures of good governance and Sport Integrity around the world.
Miguel Gouveia de Brito
CEO, Trueclinic (SIGA Member); Vice-Chair, SIGA Council
Because sport faces growing challenges — from corruption and governance failures to reputational risks — and needs strong, independent standards to safeguard credibility and public trust.
Olga Garcia
SIGA Champion; Football Analyst, RTVE; Football Analyst, 2CAT; Former Professional Footballer, Spain Women’s National Team; Former Player, FC Barcelona, Levante UD and Atlético de Madrid
Integrity cannot be treated as an event-specific priority. One practical step is to make integrity education a permanent part of every organisation, from boardrooms to academies. Regular training, clear reporting mechanisms and a culture that encourages people to speak up help ensure that integrity becomes part of daily decision-making, rather than a reaction to crises. Lasting integrity is built through consistent action, not occasional attention.
Pablo Perel
Member, SIGA Permanent Committee on Gender, Race, Inclusion and Diversity (GRID)
SIGA’s vision is strategic, and its global representation gives it a unique capacity to provide leadership in advancing Sport Integrity. Its programmes focused on equality are a fundamental part of that mission.
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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.