A Parliamentary Inquiry Commission (CPI) on Match-Fixing and Sports Betting in Brazil has revealed extensive corruption within the country’s soccer industry.
The 700-page report exposes criminal networks that have manipulated matches in the country (and globally) for illicit gambling profits.
Senator Romário Warns: “Act Now or Risk Losing the Integrity of Soccer”
According to the report, criminal organizations have “infiltrated the Brazilian game.” It continues: “Criminals primarily target goalkeepers, defenders, and teams with no chance of promotion or relegation, making them more vulnerable to manipulation.” It also suggested that club directors experiencing financial difficulties were also targeted by criminal gangs.
The report, led by Senator Romário, outlines multiple recent scandals, such as “Operation Penalidade Máxima.” A crime network paid players between R$50,000 and R$500,000 to commit deliberate fouls, conceding intentional penalties or getting cautioned at specific times to influence betting outcomes.
The report outlines multiple recent scandals, such as “Operation Penalidade Máxima”, which uncovered a network that paid players between R$50,000 and R$500,000 to commit deliberate fouls, leading to suspicious betting patterns. Investigators found that players were instructed to force penalties or receive yellow cards at specific times to influence betting outcomes.
Furthermore, it highlights the proliferation of online betting in Brazil, and correlation to the hike in match-fixing. An official from sports data and integrity business Sportradar commented during testimony: “Between 60% and 70% of the sports betting market operates illegally.” It was further noted that the rise of single-event bets, such as first yellow card or halftime score has made match manipulation easier, and more profitable for fixers.
Bruno Lopez de Moura, a former betting operator and one of the main figures investigated, admitted in his testimony that he had prior knowledge of match-fixing involving “high-profile Brazilian players.” He also confessed that he capitalized on insider information to place strategic bets and make supernormal profits.
Match-Fixing Kingpin Admits Rigging Over 40 Clubs for Betting Profits
William Rogatto, a self-proclaimed “match-fixing kingpin,” said he had manipulated over 40 football clubs for financial gain. He said: “If clubs don’t pay their players, I will. And I will make money through betting. That’s how it works.” Rogatto has been arrested in Dubai and is believed to have made over US$60,000,000 from engineering relegations.
Perhaps the most high-profile case unveiled concerns English Premier League superstar Lucas Paquetá. The CPI obtained leaked messages in which the West Ham player promised his brother a “birthday gift”: a yellow card in a match played on 12 March 2023. Transaction records and other testimonies corroborated the message. Paquetá could face a lifetime ban pending an investigation from UK authorities.
The report emphasizes the lack of cooperation from betting companies, with CPI Chairman Sen. Romário noting, “Not a single betting company has voluntarily reported match-fixing, despite being among the biggest victims of these schemes.”
The CPI discovered that match-fixers use offshore betting companies and digital payment intermediaries to launder illicit funds. There is no mention of crypto sportsbooks specifically. Given the fiat currency amounts specified in the report, the anonymity of blockchain would make it unlikely that transactional records tied to match-fixers are made through crypto.
CPI Recommends National Integrity Platform to Combat Brazil Betting Fraud
The Brazilian government has attempted to blacklist over 2,000 unlicensed betting websites. However, Anatel, the national telecommunications agency, has admitted that enforcement is nearly impossible due to legal loopholes and easy VPN workarounds.
The report calls for significant changes. It asks for stronger penalties in Brazil for individuals involved in match-fixing and mandatory cooperation between betting companies and law enforcement agencies. It also would like a national integrity platform set up to monitor suspicious betting activity and public awareness campaigns to better educate players and clubs about the danger of match-fixing.
Senator Romário concluded by warning: “If we do not act now, we risk losing the integrity of our most beloved sport. Match-fixing is not just a crime; it is a betrayal of every fan who believes in the game.”
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