By Victor Kanayo
Brazil local football activities are smarting in a match-fixing scandal and illegal betting, five years after the South American nation legalised Sports gambling.
Already, 16 persons, including seven professional soccer players, who are alleged to be involved in the illegal scheme have been charged by the Brazilian state prosecutors.
Exposed Documents With Illegal Deals
The illegal act, according to reports is one of the largest scandals since Brazil legalised sports gambling in 2018.
Investigation into the scheme has begun, after the charging documents were published on Wednesday, Reuters reports.
According to the charging documents, a criminal gang paid players to commit infractions, and would then bet on such outcomes to win payouts when the offenses occurred.
The group would offer up to 500,000 reais ($100,000) as an upfront payment to the players from clubs such as Santos, Juventude, Cuiaba, Cruzeiro, Athletico Paranaense, Internacional and Fluminense, the prosecutors alleged.
CBF Clarion For Justice And Crime Elimination
The report said the Brazilian Football Federation (CBF) had sent a letter to the Presidency of the Republic and the Ministry of Justice, requesting that the federal police be involved in the case, saying there is no possibility of the current competition being suspended.
“I’ve been working together with FIFA, as well as Brazilian clubs and Federations, with the aim of combating all types of crime, fraud or illicit action within football,” CBF president Ednaldo Rodrigues said in a statement.
Tracing The Offences/Offenders
Reuters quoting prosecutors of the Public Ministry of Goias said the alleged offenses took place in 13 matches in Series A and B of the Brazilian Championship, including eight played in 2022.
Santos defender Eduardo Bauermann is accused of receiving at least 50,000 reais ($10,000) to get a yellow card in a match against Aval last year, according to the documents.
Gabriel Tota, Paulo Miranda, Igor Carius, Victor Ramos, Fernando Neto and Matheus Gomes are among the other players charged, according to the documents.
