Brazil's leading newspaper, O Globo, published an editorial on Wednesday (6th), acknowledging that betting companies are the main entities interested in preventing match-fixing and are the first to suffer from such practices. It points out that the investigations against Flamengo's forward Bruno Henrique were initiated following a report from the CBF and reports from the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) and Sportradar, which monitor the market.
Bruno Henrique case translates effectiveness in combating betting fraud
Betting companies are the main entities interested in preventing manipulation and illicit favoring of bettors
The operation launched yesterday by the Federal Police, with support from the Public Prosecutor's Office, at Flamengo's addresses demonstrates the effectiveness of the mechanisms used to curb fraud in the sports betting market, which is in the process of being regulated in Brazil. The main target was forward Bruno Henrique, suspected of deliberately getting a yellow card in a Brazilian Championship match to benefit relatives and friends.
The incident occurred on November 1, 2023, in a match between Flamengo and Santos in Brasília (the team from São Paulo won 2-1). In the added time of the second half, Bruno Henrique received a yellow card after a foul. Subsequently, he was given a red card for insulting the referee, according to the match report.
The investigation was initiated following a communication from the CBF's Integrity Unit, reports from the International Betting Integrity Association, and the company Sportradar, which monitor the market. Data obtained from betting houses reveal suspicious bets. In addition to Bruno Henrique himself, the Federal Police are investigating his brother, a sister-in-law, a cousin, and residents of Belo Horizonte, his hometown.
The operation involved more than 50 agents and executed 12 search and seizure warrants, not only at Flamengo but also at the player's home in Barra da Tijuca, in companies he is a partner of, and in cities like Lagoa Santa, Ribeirão das Neves, Vespasiano, and Belo Horizonte, in Minas Gerais.
With the expansion of betting worldwide, suspicions of match-fixing have become frequent. Player Lucas Paquetá, formerly of Flamengo, now at West Ham, is under investigation by the English Federation on accusations of deliberately receiving yellow cards in Premier League matches to benefit friends. Forward Luiz Henrique, from Botafogo, is the subject of an investigation in Spain that looks into match-fixing to defraud sports betting.
The issue gained prominence last year, with the discovery of a match-fixing scheme. Players were enticed by gangs to commit penalties or receive cards intentionally. The investigations by the Public Prosecutor's Office of Goiás (the state where the case was discovered) reached not only Serie B clubs but also top-tier Brazilian football teams. In May last year, 16 suspects were indicted for fraud in matches of the Brasileirão and state championships.
Both in Brazil and abroad, companies hired by federations track suspicious movements. Although they obviously do not catch 100% of the cases, the mere investigation of the episode involving Bruno Henrique proves the effectiveness of the monitoring.
The entities most interested in detecting and curbing fraud are the betting companies themselves, as they are the first to lose. Clubs and federations must also strive to ensure that criminal practices do not thrive. It will be bad for football if fans believe that penalties and cards, exhaustively discussed in sports reviews, are nothing but theater.
Source: O Globo
