São Paulo Football Federation to Require Referees to Join Betting Self-Exclusion System

^{Pictured: Reinaldo Carneiro Bastos, President of the São Paulo Football Federation (FPF)}

The São Paulo Football Federation (FPF) plans to require all referees operating under its jurisdiction to register with Brazil’s federal betting self-exclusion system, Globo.com reported, citing an official letter sent to clubs, match officials and staff.

Registration is currently voluntary, but the requirement is expected to become mandatory and will be incorporated into an updated refereeing regulation. Once registered in the system, individuals are barred from placing bets with licensed operators.

The regional federation said the measure is intended to strengthen oversight of potential conflicts of interest and reduce the risk of match manipulation.

Brazilian law already prohibits referees and other officials capable of influencing the outcome of matches from participating in betting activities.

By introducing the requirement, the São Paulo Football Federation is effectively adding a preventive control mechanism that makes betting by referees technically impossible.

Previously, the Brazilian Football Confederation required a group of professional referees to confirm their registration in the self-exclusion system, marking one of the first practical steps to enhance integrity and transparency in competitions.

Gambling Park earlier reported that Brazil accounted for nearly 30% of global betting app downloads in the second half of 2025.