Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies has begun the legislative process for a proposal to punish match-fixing and fraud related to sports betting with up to 10 years in prison. The initiative has been sent to the Justice Commission, where its progress will be determined.
The bill is part of a broader package of reforms presented in February this year by federal deputy Marcelo Torres Cofiño of the National Action Party (PAN).
According to the draft, the bill proposes creating a new chapter in the Federal Penal Code focused on protecting the integrity of professional sports, with specific penalties for those who alter results, statistics, or the course of a match for economic gain.
The initiative provides for prison sentences of between four and 10 years for anyone who manipulates sporting events, in addition to substantial fines and possible disqualification from participating in sports institutions.
Deputy Marcelo Torres
It would also penalize those who use insider information to place bets, bribe players, referees, or executives, or use clubs to launder money from illegal betting. Penalties would increase if team owners or executives are involved, or if the fraud occurs in major tournaments or through licensed betting operators.
The deputy stated that the initiative responds to a growing concern: the infiltration of financial interests into sports, particularly through betting, which puts fan trust and the integrity of competitions at risk.
“Football cannot become a financial instrument without clear rules. When those who run a club also have interests in betting, the trust of fans and the ethical value of sport are undermined. Mexico must act before scandals multiply,” he said.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2026/04/06/118419-mexico-bill-advances-to-punish-matchfixing-and-betting-fraud-with-prison-sentences
