Integriball 2.0 Press Release
The Partners of Integriball 2.0. celebrate the Closing Conference of Integriball 2.0 in Bucharest:
A Global Milestone in Football Integrity Education
Bucharest, Romania – October 21, 2025 – The Romanian Football Federation, together with the CSCF Foundation for Sport Integrity, proudly hosted the Integriball 2.0 International Closing Conference, marking the successful conclusion of a two-year, multi-country initiative to protect youth and female footballers from match-fixing, harassment, and bullying, and to encourage reporting.
The event welcomed more than 100 participants and representatives from 4 continents, including leading organizations such as the European Commission, the Council of Europe, International Olympic Committee, UEFA, Interpol and FIFPRO. Their presence underscored the global relevance and impact of the project.
A Pan-European effort with global reach
Integriball 2.0 was coordinated by the CSCF Foundation for Sport Integrity, in partnership with:
- Estonian Football Association
- Georgian Football Federation
- Romanian Football Federation
- Berkeley Global Society (Research Partner)
- ULIS (Expert Organization)
And UEFA as supporting partner of the project.
These partners have played a crucial role in designing and implementing localized educational programs tailored to the needs of vulnerable athlete groups. Experts from the partner organizations have trained national trainers in each country, who continue to pass on their knowledge within their respective football federations. Through this train-the-trainer approach, integrity, safeguarding, and whistleblowing principles have reached – and will keep reaching – those most at risk. Together, the partners are building a sustainable framework to protect and empower youth and female footballers across all participating nations.
Why It Matters
Young and female athletes could be disproportionately affected by manipulation and abuse. Integriball 2.0 addressed this gap by:
- Mapping integrity risks in Estonia, Romania, and Georgia
- Creating tailored curricula and practical guides
- Promoting whistleblowing and safeguarding awareness
- Advocating for policy and funding prioritization for vulnerable groups
Education with long-term impact
While the closing event marks the end of the formal project phase, its impact is just beginning:
- A strong network of trained educators is now in place, ensuring the continuation of integrity and safeguarding education across partner countries.
- Footballers in multiple regions have already benefited from learning how to recognise and respond to integrity challenges, becoming ambassadors for fair play.
- Educational tools will be integrated into the national licensing systems of Georgia and Estonia, as well as into the education frameworks of Romania, ensuring the long-term inclusion of integrity and safeguarding topics within football structures.
Voices of Integrity
The event featured powerful testimonials from Integriball 2.0 Ambassadors:
- Radu Ureche – Romania Amputee National Team
- Eva-Maria Niit – Estonian footballer
- Dato Siradze – Georgian former professional footballer
Their stories highlighted the real-world impact of integrity education and the importance of empowering athletes to speak out.
The Way Forward
CSCF and its partners reaffirm their commitment to sustaining the Integriball 2.0. mission. With trained trainers, accessible materials, and institutional support, the project’s impact will continue to grow – ensuring that integrity in sport is not just a goal, but a standard.
The project is supported by UEFA.
For more information, visit https://foundation.cscfsport.com/integriball-2-0/ or contact info@cscfsport.com.
“Together, we didn’t just run a project, we changed how football learns integrity.”
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.
