Brazil’s Football League Under Investigation for Match-Fixing

Brazil's Parliamentary Inquiry Commission (CPI) investigating match-fixing in Brazilian football is set to conclude its work this week, following a months-long investigation that has uncovered significant concerns about the integrity of the sport. The Commission’s sponsor, former football star Romário, is expected to present a final report on Wednesday that includes a range of proposed reforms, including new laws aimed at curbing match manipulation and ensuring transparency in Brazilian sports.

CPI’s Findings and Call for Action

The CPI was established in April 2024 in response to mounting allegations of match-fixing within Brazilian football. The inquiry was triggered after high-profile accusations from Botafogo owner John Textor, who claimed to possess evidence suggesting São Paulo players had been bribed to influence the outcome of a top-flight match. As the inquiry progressed, Romário, the Commission’s primary sponsor, presented findings indicating a disturbing pattern of criminal activity surrounding match-fixing in Brazilian football.

Romário’s report claims that low-paid players are being targeted by fixers offering promises of lucrative contracts with foreign clubs in exchange for match manipulation. He also highlighted that club directors seeking financial investment were similarly vulnerable to involvement in illegal activities. According to Romário, this form of sports manipulation extends beyond Brazil’s borders, necessitating international cooperation to combat the issue.

“The current scenario of Brazilian football is at a delicate and worrying moment, in which the integrity of the most popular sport on the planet is being questioned,” Romário remarked. He called for urgent action to address the crisis and reverse the damage caused to the sport’s reputation.

Romário’s report will be forwarded to international sports integrity agencies, with a particular focus on sports betting. Additionally, all findings will be shared with Brazil’s Federal Police and the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office for further investigation and potential criminal proceedings.

Proposed Legislative Reforms

In response to the findings, Romário has introduced three legislative bills aimed at addressing the systemic issues of match-fixing in Brazilian sports. These bills include measures to toughen penalties for those involved in fraudulent results during sporting events, particularly in the realm of sports betting.

The first bill proposes an increase in the penalty for match-fixing offenses, raising the maximum prison sentence to 10 years, compared to the current range of two to six years. It would also introduce a fine for offenders. Another aspect of the bill seeks to define “fraud in the betting market” as a distinct crime, penalizing athletes who use private knowledge to gain an advantage in sports betting. This bill also calls for harsher penalties for the public dissemination of unrealistic betting results, a practice that has become increasingly common in the digital age.

The second bill addresses the growing problem of prop bets, particularly those focused on isolated events such as yellow cards or player injuries. These types of bets have been linked to numerous recent match-fixing scandals in Brazil, and Romário’s report suggests that their regulation or restriction is necessary to minimize the risk of future manipulation. Romário emphasized that prop bets, due to their limited influence on match outcomes, have proven to be a key area for criminal activity in the Brazilian sports betting landscape.

The third proposed bill seeks to enforce stronger measures to discourage gambling, particularly targeting bettors. The legislation would mandate the inclusion of clear warnings about the harmful effects of gambling and push for the creation of a self-exclusion system for problem gamblers.

Potential Amendments to the Constitution

In addition to the legislative reforms, Romário’s report also proposes an amendment to Brazil’s Constitution, stipulating that all citizens must comply with a CPI summons, with police force available if necessary. This suggestion follows a recent Supreme Federal Court (STF) ruling that allowed influencer Deolane Bezerra, involved in a high-profile illegal gambling investigation, to avoid testifying before the CPI.

Romário’s recommendation is aimed at preventing further instances where key figures in criminal investigations may evade scrutiny, potentially hindering efforts to address match-fixing and illegal gambling in Brazil.

Romário’s report also called for three indictments related to ongoing match-fixing investigations. Among the individuals flagged is Bruno Tolentino, who was implicated in a 2024 case of match manipulation. Tolentino is the uncle of Lucas Paquetá, a Brazilian national team player embroiled in a separate investigation by the Football Association (FA) regarding spot-fixing offenses in the Premier League.

Additionally, Romário requested indictments for businessmen William Pereira Rogatto and Thiago Chambó Andrade, who are allegedly connected to other match-fixing cases. However, the CPI has opted not to indict Bruno Lopez, despite his admission of participation in match-fixing, as a plea deal was reached with the public prosecutor’s office.

The current scenario of Brazilian football is at a delicate and worrying moment, in which the integrity of the most popular sport on the planet is being questioned.

Criticism and Concerns over Match Fixing

While Romário’s report has garnered praise from some quarters, including from Senator Eduardo Girão, a staunch opponent of gambling in Brazil, the inquiry’s findings have not been without controversy. Girão expressed concerns over what he described as “omissions on crucial issues,” particularly a report in Veja magazine that claimed congressman Felipe Carreras had solicited a large sum of money from betting operators to protect them in national legislative discussions.

“The uncomfortable silence on this aspect of the report needs to be reassessed,” Girão remarked, questioning the Commission’s failure to fully explore all investigative avenues. Additionally, Girão raised concerns over the appointment of Geovanni Rocco as Brazil’s national secretary for sports betting, citing potential conflicts of interest given Rocco’s pro-gambling stance.

As the CPI draws to a close, the future of Brazilian football may depend on how effectively the proposed reforms are implemented. While Romário’s proposals are a step toward restoring integrity, critics argue that further scrutiny is needed to ensure the full extent of match-fixing and illegal gambling activities are addressed. With ongoing investigations and the potential for new legislation, Brazil’s efforts to combat corruption in its beloved sport remain an evolving and contentious issue.