Leading World Organisations #SidewithSIGA for Financial Integrity Reform

New York, 13th June, 2024 

The SIGA International Expert Forum on Financial Integrity and Transparency in Sport (FITS Forum), gathered today in New York City under the auspices of the Sport Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA). Those participating recognized the vital role of Sport, expressed deep concerns with the sector’s level of exposure and vulnerability to a series of increasingly sophisticated and complex global threats and called on relevant authorities and key stakeholders across all sectors of the Global Sport landscape to join SIGA, support its global Integrity Agenda and implement the much-needed reforms.

The FITS Forum considered that Financial Integrity is a fundamental principle of Good Governance in Sport and the sine qua non condition for the recognition of the Specificity and Autonomy of Sport, and declared that the solutions, as outlined during this Forum, require co-ordinated, collaborative and affirmative global action.

Whilst positive strides have been made in recent years, Sport remains confronted with poor governance, poor regulations, lack of action-oriented and result-driven cooperation, as well as lack of independent scrutiny and oversight. This is compounded by the need to strengthen rules regarding the attribution of organisations of Major Sporting Events, Sponsorship deals and commercial arrangements. These factors combine to fuel a permissive environment and facilitate threats to Sport Integrity, such as corruption, money laundering, tax evasion and, increasingly often, transnational organised crime. The need for an adequate, updated, fit for purpose global regulatory framework and inclusive, coordinated and result-driven cooperation, at both national and international levels, is therefore greater than ever.

Accordingly, on the occasion of the 2024 FITS Forum, we call on all Sport Governing Bodies, Leagues and Key Stakeholders, as well as Governments, International Organisations, Global Business and Civil Society to act assertively, in accordance with their sphere of responsibilities and field of intervention, to:

1.     Affiliate with the critical mass pushing for the much-needed reforms, by joining SIGA and actively engage in and support its vital mission to ensure a sustainable, prosperous, inclusive and accessible future, built upon the pillars of Integrity, Transparency and Good Governance;

2.     Enhance the legislative and regulatory frameworks of Sport Organisations by promoting, adopting and incorporating the SIGA Universal Standards on Good Governance in Sport, Financial Integrity in Sport, Sports Betting Integrity and Youth Development and Protection in Sport;

3.     Ensure that all Sport Organisations, including international and national Sport Governing Bodies, International and National Competition Organisers and other relevant stakeholders, comply with the aforementioned SIGA Universal Standards and undergo the SIGA Independent Rating and Verification System  (SIRVS);

4.     Support SIGA’s call and efforts to establish a Global Independent Clearing House to facilitate and ensure the indispensable Integrity and Transparency of capital investment and financial transactions in Sport, at national and international level;

5.     Align behind and support SIGA’s efforts to establish a Sport Integrity Fund that is backed by the entire Sport Industry and Legislative and Judicial Systems. This fund would receive contributions from various sources, including allocating a percentage of revenues generated from the commercial exploitation of broadcasting rights, sponsorship deals, and Sport Betting Revenues to fund Sport Integrity initiatives, including the delivery of the much-needed Training, Education and Capacity Building;

6.     Review the existing legislation and international agreements with the aim of closing existing gaps in combating corruption, money laundering, tax evasion and other financial crimes affecting Sport and the wider sporting industry, including but not limited to the incorporation of adequate provisions related to ultimate beneficial owners and the use of offshore entities and anonymous instruments, such as crypto-assets; and

7.     Ensure that any investment or allocation of public funding to Sport, or any other sector, irrespective of intent, is conducted with absolute Transparency, Accountability and Oversight and subject to the confirmation that the respective recipients respect and are conformed with the SIGA Universal Standards on Sport Integrity.

SIGA FITS FORUM, New York, June 13th, 2024