Published on: December 1, 2025, 08:48h.
Updated on: December 1, 2025, 08:48h.
- IBIA and PFA Canada collaborate to inform athletes about match-fixing
- Integrity training initiative reached almost 200 players and staff across all eight clubs in 2025
With professional sports, sports wagering, and match-fixing making headlines recently—especially with several players from the NBA and MLB involved—the partnership between the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) and the Professional Footballers’ Association Canada (PFA) is particularly significant.
Today, the two organizations announced that soccer players in the Canadian Premier League have successfully completed the second year of their cooperative anti-match-fixing education initiative.
The CPL comprises eight teams: Forge (Hamilton), Atlético Ottawa, Cavalry (Calgary), HFX Wanderers (Halifax), Pacific (Victoria), Supra (Montreal), Vancouver FC, and the newly transformed Inter Toronto Football Club, formerly known as York United FC. Valour FC, based in Winnipeg, recently announced its suspension of operations.
Risks Related to Betting
The integrity training initiative successfully reached nearly 200 players and staff across all eight teams in 2025.
“As sports betting expands across Canada, this training supports PFA Canada’s mission to assist athletes and uphold integrity and fairness within our sport,” stated Marco Carducci, President of PFA Canada and Captain of Cavalry FC.
IBIA’s player education initiative, “Protecting the Integrity of the Game,” focuses on three fundamental areas: rules, responsibility, and reporting. Known as the 3Rs, it outlines crucial information every athlete should understand regarding sports betting and match-fixing.
The primary aim of the training is to equip athletes and coaches with the expertise needed to identify, avoid, and report risks associated with betting integrity.
New Team in Toronto
“Combating sports betting-related match-fixing begins with athlete and coach education,” remarked Khalid Ali, CEO of IBIA. “Through collaborative initiatives, industry-funded projects, and one-on-one training, IBIA is establishing the global benchmark for athlete education on betting integrity, in alignment with our Mission 2030 strategy.
“In addition to regulation and monitoring, prioritizing player education is vital for a developing Canadian sports betting integrity landscape. We’re delighted to witness this program making a tangible impact. Everyone benefits from maintaining the integrity of sports.”
Investment of $300,000
The initiative also provided insights on regulations and sanctions, detailing the scale and precision of technology used for monitoring sports integrity, as well as guidance on reporting illegal activities through the red button app.
The IBIA and PFA Canada education program represents a three-year, CAD $300,000 investment backed by the IBIA, bet365, Betway, and FanDuel. Canadian athletes and sports organizations are offered complimentary in-person integrity training to bolster the defense against match manipulation.
“The IBIA sports integrity training was incredibly insightful for our players, delivering vital information on sports betting regulations, potential repercussions, and methods for reporting unlawful behavior,” commented Callum Irving, captain of Vancouver FC. “Resources like those provided by IBIA are essential in safeguarding our sport and locker rooms from match-fixing related to sports betting.”