The Brazilian senate is taking decisive action against match-fixing in soccer by setting up a parliamentary commission. Spearheading this effort is Senator Romario, the famed former Barcelona striker and 1994 World Cup champion, who pointed to a Sportradar report highlighting 109 suspicious matches in Brazil during 2023.
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This move comes in the wake of the Federal District and Territories’ public prosecutor initiating “Operation End of Game” to probe match-fixing allegations within the Candangão league. The operation specifically targets Nathan Henrique Gama da Silva and Alexandre Batista, players from Santa Maria, over suspicions of manipulating matches against Gama and Ceilandia.
Romario’s request last week for the formation of the CPI (Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry) marked a significant step. In Brazil, such a commission has extensive investigative powers, including the authority to breach banking, fiscal, data, and telephone secrets.
Hoje, no Plenário do Senado, falei mais uma vez sobre a importância da CPI de Manipulação de Resultados. Coloco em destaque a luta para garantir a integridade do futebol. A instalação da CPI é um passo crucial para investigar uma teia complexa de apostas, fraudes e manipulações… pic.twitter.com/oghfz1xxaM
— Romário (@RomarioOnze) March 12, 2024
This initiative follows the Brazilian government’s legalization of betting last year, which, despite its potential economic benefits, lacked comprehensive measures to prevent match-fixing. A detailed investigation in 2023 revealed attempts by criminal syndicates to bribe players in Goias for spot-fixing, underscoring the challenges in safeguarding the sport’s integrity.
The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has maintained a cautious stance amidst these developments. However, the appointment of Eduardo Gussem, former Attorney General of Rio de Janeiro, as the organization’s integrity officer, signals a more proactive approach in combating corruption within the game.
