More Brazilian footballers and business owners caught up in betting scandal
Date: 2023-07-28 Categories: SPORTS BETTING, EVENTS
The latest list, which is the result of three ongoing investigations, includes seven more players, as well as some people who ran illegal bookmakers.
An investigation by the Goiás State Ministry (MPGO, an acronym in Portuguese) found match-fixing in 13 Serie A games of the 2022 Brazilian Championship. -fixation. The investigation is now in its third phase.
The Goiás Court (TJGO, acronym in Portuguese) has granted MPGO's request to prosecute the seven players and seven others accused of being involved in the scheme, and more players may be in trouble next month. The new chapter of the drama does not include the ongoing investigation by the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry.
Brazilian football is falling apart
Athletes named in the decision include Alef Manga of Coritiba, Dada Belmonte of America-MG and Igor Karius of Sport Club do Recife. Their status in their respective teams and in Brazilian football is now in limbo.
In addition, the list includes Jesús Emiliano Flores, Pedro Enrique Azevedo Pereira, Sidkley Ferreira Pereira and Tony Anderson da Silva Carvalho. They do not currently play for any Brazilian club, although they have all found new homes elsewhere. Azevedo Pereira, known as Pedrinho, plays for Shakhtar Donetsk.
Other individuals identified by investigators as intermediaries and/or agents will now face possible criminal prosecution. Among the names mentioned by MPGO are Bruno López, Icaro Fernando Calixto dos Santos, Luis Felipe Rodríguez de Castro, Romario Hugo dos Santos, Victor Yamasaki, Thiago Chambo Andrade and Kleber Vinicius Rocha Antunes.
As of Matchday 25 of the 2022 Brazilian Championship, according to MPGO's complaint, these agents have started looking for players, offering them money to receive yellow cards. Only in one case was red card payment offered.
Through their illegal operations, the gang allegedly earned around BRL 720,000 (US$152,496). All Defendants will be held liable for violations of the General Law of Sports, which relates to offering and receiving a pecuniary advantage for the practice of the act of manipulating the result of a sports competition.
The Superior Court of Justice for Sport (STJD) on Thursday called additional players to testify as part of Operation Maximum Punishment. They will be required to appear when the STJD holds a hearing on August 8th.
This list includes Nino Paraiba, Richard Candido Coelho, Vitor Mendez, Nathan Palaphos de Sousa, Diego Porfirio and Brian Garcia.
Brazil's sports betting tax system under fire
Match-fixing is not the only problem facing Brazilian sports. As the country prepares to launch its regulated market after recent legislative approval, the tax rate is under fire.
The rate for operators will be 18%, which is significantly higher than the originally announced 5%. This does not please them, and the Brazilian Institute for Responsible Gaming (IBJR) wants the government to know about it.
IBJR is a trade group representing gaming interests in Brazil. Its members include Flutter, Bet365, Entain and Betsson. As the government presented the final signature for the sports betting bill, IBJR President André Gelfi expressed a concern that was echoed around the world. A high tax could lead to an increase in black market gambling.
Gelfi explained that the tax rate could "affect the entire economic chain" associated with the sports betting market. This could lead to less focus on innovation and customer support in the industry, which could have long-term implications.
Since market control will be tighter, it will also be harder to incentivize players. As a result, Gelfi believes users will continue to turn to offshore options that provide better incentives.
Now it's too late to retreat. Brazil has set the ball in motion and only time will tell if lawmakers get the market right and if Gelfi is right.
An investigation by the Goiás State Ministry (MPGO, an acronym in Portuguese) found match-fixing in 13 Serie A games of the 2022 Brazilian Championship. -fixation. The investigation is now in its third phase.
The Goiás Court (TJGO, acronym in Portuguese) has granted MPGO's request to prosecute the seven players and seven others accused of being involved in the scheme, and more players may be in trouble next month. The new chapter of the drama does not include the ongoing investigation by the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry.
Brazilian football is falling apart
Athletes named in the decision include Alef Manga of Coritiba, Dada Belmonte of America-MG and Igor Karius of Sport Club do Recife. Their status in their respective teams and in Brazilian football is now in limbo.
In addition, the list includes Jesús Emiliano Flores, Pedro Enrique Azevedo Pereira, Sidkley Ferreira Pereira and Tony Anderson da Silva Carvalho. They do not currently play for any Brazilian club, although they have all found new homes elsewhere. Azevedo Pereira, known as Pedrinho, plays for Shakhtar Donetsk.
Other individuals identified by investigators as intermediaries and/or agents will now face possible criminal prosecution. Among the names mentioned by MPGO are Bruno López, Icaro Fernando Calixto dos Santos, Luis Felipe Rodríguez de Castro, Romario Hugo dos Santos, Victor Yamasaki, Thiago Chambo Andrade and Kleber Vinicius Rocha Antunes.
As of Matchday 25 of the 2022 Brazilian Championship, according to MPGO's complaint, these agents have started looking for players, offering them money to receive yellow cards. Only in one case was red card payment offered.
Through their illegal operations, the gang allegedly earned around BRL 720,000 (US$152,496). All Defendants will be held liable for violations of the General Law of Sports, which relates to offering and receiving a pecuniary advantage for the practice of the act of manipulating the result of a sports competition.
The Superior Court of Justice for Sport (STJD) on Thursday called additional players to testify as part of Operation Maximum Punishment. They will be required to appear when the STJD holds a hearing on August 8th.
This list includes Nino Paraiba, Richard Candido Coelho, Vitor Mendez, Nathan Palaphos de Sousa, Diego Porfirio and Brian Garcia.
Brazil's sports betting tax system under fire
Match-fixing is not the only problem facing Brazilian sports. As the country prepares to launch its regulated market after recent legislative approval, the tax rate is under fire.
The rate for operators will be 18%, which is significantly higher than the originally announced 5%. This does not please them, and the Brazilian Institute for Responsible Gaming (IBJR) wants the government to know about it.
IBJR is a trade group representing gaming interests in Brazil. Its members include Flutter, Bet365, Entain and Betsson. As the government presented the final signature for the sports betting bill, IBJR President André Gelfi expressed a concern that was echoed around the world. A high tax could lead to an increase in black market gambling.
Gelfi explained that the tax rate could "affect the entire economic chain" associated with the sports betting market. This could lead to less focus on innovation and customer support in the industry, which could have long-term implications.
Since market control will be tighter, it will also be harder to incentivize players. As a result, Gelfi believes users will continue to turn to offshore options that provide better incentives.
Now it's too late to retreat. Brazil has set the ball in motion and only time will tell if lawmakers get the market right and if Gelfi is right.
