Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros, Global CEO of the Sport Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA), opened the SIGA Football Integrity Forum on Thursday as part of the Thinking Football Summit 2024. In his speech on the TFS Stage, Medeiros emphasized the critical role of integrity in sport.

"Sport doesn't exist in a vacuum; it belongs to something bigger, with more meaning. It’s a vital part of society and the global economy, contributing positively to self-esteem, social responsibility, sustainability, and wealth creation. The foundation of all this is integrity. Without integrity, sport is nothing. Without integrity, society and the economy are nothing," he remarked.

Medeiros assured the audience that while progress has been made, there is still much work to do in safeguarding the future of sport. "Integrity in sport is flourishing and growing. Those who see sports as mere money-making machines must safeguard the integrity of the sport, which is under constant attack," he warned.

The SIGA Football Integrity Forum continues with two key panels later in the day: "The Future of Football in Europe" and "Integrity in Sports Betting."