The International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) and the Professional Footballers’ Association Canada (PFA Canada) have completed the second year of their joint anti‑match‑fixing education program, reaching nearly 200 players and staff across all eight Canadian Premier League (CPL) clubs in 2025.
With sports betting and match‑fixing scandals making headlines in professional leagues such as the NBA and MLB, the initiative underscores the importance of proactive education in safeguarding Canadian soccer.
Canadian Premier League Clubs
The CPL currently includes:
- Forge FC (Hamilton)
- Atlético Ottawa
- Cavalry FC (Calgary)
- HFX Wanderers FC (Halifax)
- Pacific FC (Victoria)
- Supra FC (Montreal)
- Vancouver FC
- Inter Toronto FC (formerly York United)
Valour FC (Winnipeg) recently announced suspension of operations.
Betting‑Related Risks
The program, “Protecting the Integrity of the Game,” is built on the 3Rs framework:
- Rules – outlining what athletes must know about betting restrictions.
- Responsibility – emphasizing player accountability.
- Reporting – providing clear channels to flag suspicious activity.
Marco Carducci, President of PFA Canada and Captain of Cavalry FC, stated:
“With the growth of sports betting across Canada, this training supports athletes and keeps integrity and fairness at the heart of our sport.”
Program Goals
The training equips athletes and coaches to identify, avoid, and report integrity risks. Khalid Ali, CEO of IBIA, noted:
“Preventing match‑fixing starts with education. Through collaborative campaigns, industry‑funded initiatives, and face‑to‑face training, IBIA is setting the global standard for athlete education in line with our Mission 2030 strategy. Everyone benefits when sports are clean.”
CAD $300,000 Investment
The initiative is part of a three‑year, CAD $300,000 investment funded by IBIA, bet365, Betway, and FanDuel. It provides free, in‑person integrity education to Canadian athletes and sports organizations.
Training also covers:
- Rules and sanctions for betting violations
- Technology used in sports integrity monitoring
- Reporting tools such as the Red Button app
Callum Irving, Captain of Vancouver FC, added:
“The IBIA training was super informative. It gave our players essential knowledge on betting rules, consequences, and how to report illegal activity. Resources like IBIA are vital to safeguarding our sport and locker rooms.”
