SIGA Football Integrity Forum 2026 to Address Betting Integrity and Good Governance in Portugal

The Sport Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA) will host the SIGA Football Integrity Forum in Portugal on 23 September 2026, convening senior figures from football, regulation, sports betting, technology, and broadcasting to address the game’s most urgent integrity issues. Organised as part of the Portugal Football Summit by SIGA and hosted by the Portuguese Football Federation at Cidade do Futebol, the Forum will centre on sports betting integrity, good governance through independent verification, and the rapidly evolving risks of digital piracy in sports broadcasting.

SIGA Football Integrity Forum: Themes and Focus Areas

The 2026 edition of the Forum targets three main integrity challenges for football:

• Sports Betting Integrity and the collective responsibility to protect sport and its stakeholders.
• Good Governance, emphasising the shift from policy commitment to demonstrable impact, supported by independent verification like the SIGA Independent Rating and Verification System (SIRVS).
• Piracy and Technological Change in sports broadcasting, examining the threats posed by illegal streaming and the corresponding need for innovative, coordinated protections.

Football is undergoing substantial transformation amid evolving regulatory frameworks, technological shifts, and rising expectations for greater transparency and accountability. Sports organisations today bear heightened responsibility to prove their commitments to integrity through measurable actions, independent assessment, and ongoing improvement.

Sports Betting Integrity: Addressing Match Manipulation and Harm

Sports betting integrity, now a priority for regulators and industry leaders, involves fighting match-fixing, betting-related corruption, and gambling-related harm. The SIGA Football Integrity Forum 2026 will explore measures for:

• Enhancing cooperation among sports federations, public authorities, betting operators, and integrity specialists.
• Strengthening consumer protection and responsible betting mechanisms.
• Applying technological innovation to detect and prevent manipulation.

Confirmed speakers in this domain include Paul Buck (CEO, EPIC Global Solutions), Iñaki Arbea Sarasa (Integrity Deputy Director, LaLiga), Ricardo Domingues (President, APAJO), with moderation by João Paulo Almeida, Co-Chair of the SIGA Permanent Committee on Sports Betting Integrity.

Good Governance and Verification: From Policy to Impact

Pressure is mounting for football’s governing bodies and clubs to move beyond written commitments. The session on good governance addresses:

• The operational need for robust, effective governance frameworks.
• Independent benchmarking using systems such as SIRVS.
• Increasing resilience, credibility, and stakeholder confidence through verified standards.

Speakers for this topic include Gianni Minervini (Acting Executive Director, European Aquatics), Roberto Fiore (Partner, LP Avvocati; Member, SIGA Council), and moderator Katie Simmonds (Global Chief Commercial Officer, SIGA; Chair, SIGAWomen Council).

Digital Piracy and the Future of Sports Broadcasting

Growing digital piracy undermines football’s commercial ecosystem, threatening revenue for broadcasters, rights holders, competitions, and athletes. The final session covers:

• The evolution of piracy and the escalating sophistication of illegal streaming.
• The necessity for effective collaboration between rightsholders, broadcasters, technology providers, law enforcement, and regulators.
• Mechanisms to protect commercial value, sustainability, and the long-term integrity of sports broadcasting.

Confirmed speakers include André Mosqueira Amaral (CEO, Liga Portugal), Mark Noble (Director of Technical Operations, StreamAMG), with moderation by Nuno Perestrelo (Senior Director of Communication, Media & Thought Leadership, SIGA).

"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." — SIGA Official Statement

The Programme: Structure and Timings

The Forum will run from 15:00 to 17:30 on the GALP Stage with the following agenda:

• 15:00 – 15:10: Keynote by Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros (SIGA Co-Founder and Global CEO)
• 15:10 – 15:50: Sports Betting Integrity Session
• 16:00 – 16:40: Good Governance and Independent Verification Session
• 16:50 – 17:30: Piracy, Technology and Future of Sports Broadcasting Session

The Role of SIGA in Football Integrity

SIGA is a Geneva-based, non-profit, global independent organisation established to uphold integrity in sports governance. It convenes stakeholders from sport, government, academia, and business—offering rating and certification through universal standards and initiatives such as SIRVS. SIGA operates internationally, with SIGA Europe, SIGA America, and SIGA Latin America as regional subsidiaries. Learn more about regulatory developments and integrity standards in our regulation section.

Confirmed Speakers and Organisations Represented

Senior representatives from organisations including LaLiga, Liga Portugal, European Aquatics, APAJO, EPIC Global Solutions, LiveMode, and StreamAMG will participate. Opening remarks will be made by Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros, Co-Founder and Global CEO of SIGA.

The 2026 SIGA Football Integrity Forum provides a platform for regulatory leaders, operators, and stakeholders to collaborate on solutions that reinforce football’s credibility and sustainability within the modern digital, regulatory, and commercial environment.