A new match fixing scandal ravages Brazil
A few times per year, the news come to report of a new case of match fixing. It is an unfortunate reality that despite legislation and measures taken to eradicate the practice, it seems to be a losing battle (if it’s not already lost) as the prospect of making some fast money seems to be a greater incentive. The new scandal was revealed on Wednesday and it has already wrought havoc in leagues outside the country. Not to mention of course the major upset to the bettors and the top Asian and European Bookmakers that will now have to revise their offers and where to place their wagers.
It started in the state of Goiás
16 football players (7 of them professionals) were accused by the prosecutors for infractions committed in 13 matches. The Public Ministry of the state released the official documents describing how these players were paid by a criminal syndicate before they even proceed to further criminal activity, by placing bets themselves on these matches. The offer from the outlaw group was for 100,000 dollars (500,000 in Brazilian Reais) to be paid in advance.
The players involved belong to Santos, Cruzeiro, Cuiaba, Juventud, Internacional, Athletico Paranaense and Fluminense in Brazil, while MLS club Colorado Rapids released a statement that one of their players is also involved. The name was not released but the announcement included a notification that the ruling body of the MLS is also conducting its own investigation of the allegations. Some of the rest of the names of players implicated in the scandal include Gabriel Tota, Victor Ramos, Igor Carius, Fernando Neto, Paulo Miranda and Matheus Gomes. Even more specific are the charges for Eduardo Bauermann, defender for Santos. Allegedly he was paid 10,000 dollars to receive a yellow card at last year’s match against Aval.
It became Federal
Typically, the current league should have been suspended. However, as there was no possibility for that happening, the Brazilian Federation requested the intervention of the Ministry of justice and the Federal Police. Minister Flavio Dino responded positively to the request and ordered that the investigation become federal. The relevant announcement read:
«Faced with evidence of manipulation of results in sports competitions, with interstate and even international repercussions, I am determining today that an inquiry be instituted at the Federal Police for the legally applicable investigations. This measure was taken this Wednesday (May 10) after the disclosure that athletes from main division clubs of Brazilian soccer were suspected of collaborating with gangs that would act through sports betting. »
All footballers named in the official documents have been suspended from all activities of their respective clubs.
Both fans and punters need to know that the sports they love and place bets on are clean and honest. When news like that are released to the public, their faith is shaken and they are reluctant to register for a betting account via agent. And it usually takes a lot of time for that faith to be restored. Mostly through news that the perpetrators have been identified, arrested and dully punished.