Apita Cidadão: Government launches platform for reporting match-fixing

The Federal Government has launched Apita Cidadão, a digital platform for anonymous reports of sports match-fixing. All information will be analyzed by the Federal Police, with confidentiality guaranteed to whistleblowers.

How it works

The system is straightforward: a four-step form where citizens provide the date and location of the match, the individuals allegedly involved, and a brief description of the case. The initiative is part of a task force that brings together the Ministries of Sports, Finance, Justice, and the Federal Police, with 180 days (extendable) to present a report and action proposals.

From September 29 to October 1, the Ministry of Sports will host in Brasília a technical meeting with delegates from state Civil and Federal Police across the country, focused on training and qualification. During the event, the government will also release a manual establishing guidelines to prevent and combat sports fraud.

Brazil has been a negative highlight: according to Sportradar, the country led the global ranking of suspicious cases in 2022 (152) and 2023 (110), but the number dropped to 57 last year. In addition, this September Brazil formally expressed to the Council of Europe its intention to join the Macolin Convention, an international treaty signed by about 50 countries to strengthen cooperation and information-sharing against match-fixing.