[03 April 2025] – Europe – The Integriball 2.0 project, led by the CSCF
Foundation for Sport Integrity (CSCF), has officially launched its first wave
of training sessions across Romania, Georgia, and Estonia, reinforcing its
commitment to safeguarding, anti-manipulation, and whistleblowing in football.
With the support of UEFA and partnerships with national football federations,
the project marks a pivotal step in building integrity-focused capacity in
women’s and youth football.
Cooperating with the Estonian Football Association
(EJL), the Georgian Football Federation (GFF), the Romanian Football Federation
(FRF), the Berkeley Global Society (BGS), and United Lotteries for Integrity in
Sports (ULIS), these training programs have mobilized clubs, trainers, and
players with one shared goal: creating a safer, fairer, and more ethically
resilient football environment.
A Unified model across three countries
At the heart of the initiative is a dual-focus approach:
– Train-the-Trainer sessions – preparing local coaches and facilitators to deliver impactful safeguarding and integrity education to players across multiple clubs.
– Pilot player workshops – engaging women and youth players directly in practical, scenario-based sessions on ethics, resilience, and safe reporting practices.
This model was rolled out simultaneously in Romania, Georgia, and Estonia, leveraging the same framework to ensure consistency and replicability across countries.
Participants included trainers and players from leading clubs such as:
Romania: among others – C.S. Dinamo București, Sepsi OSK, Universitatea Craiova, Farul Constanța, FC Rapid 1923
Georgia: Dinamo Tbilisi, Dinamo Sokhumi, Locomotive Tbilisi
“I am coach and I work at FC Locomotive Tbilisi Academy. I coach young players, communicate with them on daily basis, so I feel it is really important to educate them about all the risks they might be facing. We should do our best to support their passion, either they continue as professional players, coaches, referees, or just fans.” added Lasha Kvaratskhelia-coach/trainer from Georgia.
“From the training, I learned that I could be disqualified from football for life if I were involved in any attempt at match manipulation. Then there were quizzes, which were fun! In the end, we also learned a bit more about bullying and harassment.” Mate Abesadze, young player from Georgia.
“We were taught about harassment and match manipulation. There are people who can ruin our careers, and we might be offered money to manipulate a game. We were informed about the possible sanctions and how those people might try to contact us, as well as how betting odds are made. So now we know that if someone contacts us—even with threats—we must report it to the club or the federation.” Tamar Akhobadze – Female Georgian player
Estonia: Tallina FC Ararat, Põhja-Tallina JK Volta, Pärnu JK Vaprus, Põlva FC Lootos, Saue JK
“It was a very positive initiative from the Estonian Football Association and all the partners. Subjects covered were very real-life and a lot of the material works perfectly as prevention. It was good to hear that in many areas Estonia is well-developed and leading the fight against match-fixing and harassment. I would like to compliment the lecturers who presented the material in a clear and logical manner.” Shared Indrek Käo, coach and executive director of Põlva FC Lootos.
All sessions were delivered by CSCF experts, supported by local federations and contributions from BGS and ULIS specialists.
Ambassadors Speak: Integrity is Everyone’s Responsibility
Ambassadors of the project – respected figures from within the football community – played a key role in inspiring engagement and promoting the project’s core values.
“However, there are manipulations in football and sports in general that interfere with and violate the principles and rules that define the game. These manipulations undermine trust, teamwork, and integrity, harming players and fans alike. We must do everything we can to preserve these principles and values for future generations.” added David Siradze, Georgian ambassador.
“Me and other people connected to football can find themselves in a moment where something happens and you might not know what to do, how to react. It is very important to educate people in this area and to give clear instructions on how to react. This is why Integriball 2.0 it’s important “ shared Eva-Maria Niit, Estonian ambassador.
Meaningful engagement, tangible impact
Trainers left the sessions with practical strategies and educational materials designed to be implemented within their respective clubs and federations. Players engaged in workshops that addressed real-world challenges such as cyber harassment, match-fixing approaches, and whistleblower protection, equipping them with the skills and awareness to navigate high-pressure environments with integrity.
“This training has completely reshaped the way I think about my role—not just as a coach, but as a protector of the game,” said one participating trainer. “We learned that integrity isn’t just a rule—it’s a mindset that can protect careers and futures,” shared a young female player from Romania.
Towards a sustainable integrity legacy
By educating trainers who will continue delivering the sessions within their own clubs and networks, Integriball 2.0 ensures long-term sustainability and wide-reaching influence. This approach not only amplifies the project’s impact across the football ecosystem but also aligns with UEFA’s broader integrity and safeguarding objectives.
The Integriball 2.0 framework builds on the success of its predecessor, Integriball, which was piloted across five countries (Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Greece, and Malta). The new phase expands this legacy, integrating updated insights and modern threats facing the game—especially for young and female athletes.
About Integriball 2.0
Integriball 2.0 is an Erasmus+ supported initiative led by CSCF, in collaboration with the Estonian Football Association, the Georgian Football Federation, the Romanian Football Federation, Berkeley Global Society (BGS), United Lotteries for Integrity in Sports (ULIS), and supported by UEFA. The project aims to strengthen safeguarding practices, combat match-fixing, and foster a culture of whistleblowing within football communities in Estonia, Georgia, and Romania.
Building on the foundations of the original Integriball project—implemented across Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Greece, and Malta—Integriball 2.0 expands its reach and impact by bringing proven strategies and tailored interventions to three new partner countries. Together, we are driving meaningful change to protect the integrity of football at all levels.
About CSCF
The CSCF Foundation for Sport Integrity is an organization committed to enhancing integrity, transparency, and ethics in sports across the globe. We offer education, advice, and risk management support to sports organizations, law enforcement, governmental bodies, and the betting industry, addressing key ethical and integrity challenges. As Integriball 2.0 coordinators and a premier content provider, we drive this unique initiative, committed to the cause of sports integrity.
About Integriball 2.0 Partners
Eesti Jalgpalli Liit (EJL): EJL, or the Estonian Football Association, is the governing body for football in Estonia. As a partner in Integriball 2.0, EJL represents the importance of integrity in sports governance at a national level. By ensuring fair play, transparency, and ethical conduct within Estonian football, EJL contributes to fostering integrity both on and off the field.
Georgian Football Federation (GFF): GFF serves as the governing body for football in Georgia. Through its involvement in Integriball 2.0, GFF emphasizes the significance of integrity in sports development within the country. By promoting integrity in football administration, player conduct, and fan engagement, GFF plays a crucial role in upholding the values of fairness and honesty in Georgian football.
Federatia Romana De Fotbal (FRF): FRF, or the Romanian Football Federation, is responsible for overseeing football activities in Romania. As a partner in Integriball 2.0, FRF underscores the importance of integrity in football governance and competition. FRF’s commitment to combating corruption, match-fixing, and other integrity-related issues within Romanian football highlights its dedication to preserving the sport’s credibility and ethical standards.
Berkeley Law Society (BGS) is a nonprofit, educational network of legal professionals who received all or part of their legal education at the University of California, Berkeley. BGS is an international organisation with a direct presence in 113 countries, including almost all EU members states. The purpose of BGS is to unlock intelligence and human capital. BGS partners are major Institutions including Law Firms, NGOs, States and International Organisations.
United Lotteries for Integrity in Sports (Expert Organization) is a hub of expertise in integrity matters and is the state lotteries’ mutualised monitoring system on sports betting. It is active in the field of education and capacity building among athletes, officials and all relevant stakeholders, notably with regard to prevention and detection of match-fixing.
For media inquiries, please contact: Integriball2.admin@cscfsport.com
Disclaimer: The project is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or EACEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
