The event brought together male and female athletes and coaching staff to discuss the involvement of players in sports betting schemes in Brazil. It was a joint initiative by Ceará Sporting Club, Sportradar — a global leader in match-fixing prevention — and Esportes da Sorte, one of the club’s sponsors.
The workshop, held in Porangabuçu, aimed to educate the squads of the "Time do Povo" (Team of the People) on the personal and professional risks they may face, such as threats and sporting sanctions.
The session, which saw active participation from the athletes for nearly an hour, was led by Felippe Marchetti, Sportradar’s Integrity Director for Latin America.
“It’s very important to have the athletes engaged and to share this knowledge with them, because we now have an entire betting system in place, increased exposure of athletes to manipulation attempts, and often, the information about the associated risks doesn’t reach them,” said Felippe Marchetti.
“What are the nuances behind match-fixing? What should they do if approached by fixers? What are the consequences of getting involved in such practices?” Marchetti outlined some of the key topics discussed during the workshop.
“This is a basic and fundamental step toward strengthening the protection of Brazilian sports. I’m very pleased that a club of Ceará’s stature opened its doors so we could speak with both the men’s and women’s teams. I’m sure the athletes will share what they learned with their teammates, and this knowledge will spread,” he emphasized.
The workshop organized by Ceará, with support from its sponsor Esportes da Sorte, is yet another initiative by the club to raise awareness about the harm that match manipulation can cause — not only to the institution but also to the athletes themselves.
Lucas Drubscky, Ceará’s football executive, highlighted the club’s preventive efforts and the importance of addressing the issue: “Ceará takes this topic very seriously. Today, the club plays an important role in the fight against match-fixing. We take preventive action with frequent meetings and have even developed a handbook on the subject for the squad.”
“It is our duty to provide these learning opportunities to players and coaching staff. We’re living in a time when the integrity of sport is under scrutiny. In this context, initiatives like this are essential,” said the executive.
Source: GMB
