A report produced by Sportradar and sent to FIFA and CBF identified the match between Flamengo and Santos (Brasileirão 2023) as "concerning from an integrity standpoint," due to the "high risks" related to the possibility of forward Bruno Henrique receiving a yellow card. Betano recorded nine maximum bets in just three hours, and galera.bet also detected unusual activities, according to a previous document from the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) that originated the investigation.
The report, which is also in the possession of the Federal Police and the Public Prosecutor's Office of the Federal District, complements a previous document from the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA), which initiated the investigation that led to the operation launched this Tuesday (5) against the Flamengo player.
The star is suspected of having manipulated his own behavior on the field, receiving cards intentionally during a match of the Brazilian Championship 2023 against Santos. According to authorities, the goal was to benefit relatives who had previously bet on this penalty. The player declares himself innocent of the accusations.
According to the Sportradar alert, the betting house Betano received nine maximum bets within a three-hour interval on the possibility of Bruno Henrique receiving a card. The report highlights that 98% of the betting volume on cards was directed at the Flamengo player. In response to this activity, Betano suspended the possibility of betting on this event one day before the game.
The Sportradar document also contradicts the defense of Bruno Henrique, who argues that the possibility of receiving a yellow card would be natural, since the player was already hanging with two cards. The report emphasizes that, although there are sporting reasons that may justify the situation, the volume of bets raises concerns about the integrity of the game.
Although the Superior Court of Sports Justice (STJD) archived the case on September 30, not considering the documents from Sportradar and IBIA sufficient to open a sports investigation, the possibility of reopening the case remains if new evidence is presented by the authorities.
In addition to Betano, other betting houses, galera.bet and KTO, also reported unusual movements related to the possibility of Bruno Henrique receiving a card in the match. Information about these two companies is not included in the Sportradar report, but is mentioned in the IBIA document.
In an official statement, the Special Action Group to Combat Organized Crime (Gaeco) and the Federal Police reported that they launched an operation to investigate cards taken by the athlete in a match against Santos, for the Brasileirão 2023, on November 1st last year.
In total, more than 50 federal police officers and six prosecutors from Gaeco-DF have already begun to execute 12 search and seizure warrants, issued by the Justice of the Federal District, in the cities of Rio de Janeiro (including the CT Ninho do Urubu), Belo Horizonte, Vespasiano, Lagoa Santa, and Ribeirão das Neves.
In addition to Bruno Henrique, various bettors and family members of the forward are also under investigation.
"The investigation began from a communication made by the Integrity Unit of the Brazilian Football Confederation. According to reports from the International Betting Integrity Association and Sportradar, which perform risk analysis, there would be suspicions of market manipulation of cards in the match of the Brazilian Championship", wrote the MPDFT.
"In the course of the investigation, the data obtained from the betting houses, through the legal representatives indicated by the Secretary of Betting Prizes of the Ministry of Finance, pointed out that the bets would have been made by relatives of the player and by another group still under investigation", complemented.
What happened during the game?
According to the information collected by the authorities, Bruno Henrique would have forced a yellow card during a match against Santos, on November 1st, 2023, for the Brasileirão. The action would have been motivated to benefit relatives.
The forward was punished by the referee Rafael Rodrigo Klein (RS) with a yellow card in the added time of the second half for a foul on the field. After the warning, when complaining about the decision, he was warned again and expelled from the match. In the confrontation, Santos won the match 2-1, at Maracanã, for the Brazilian.
"Upon detecting any suspicious activity, and in accordance with our processes and adhering to strict international protocols throughout our multinational presence, including Brazil, we promptly report them to the competent authorities", said Betano in a direct statement from Greece, headquarters of the company.
According to Betano, which does not mention the case of Bruno Henrique specifically, it is necessary for each country to have "a national structure to enable quick investigation and resolution". Considering this activity, Betano suspended this possibility one day before the start of the game", says the Sportradar report sent to FIFA and obtained by ge.
Check out the full note from Betano:
Betano is part of Kaizen Gaming, one of the leading GameTech operators in the world. The company adheres to strict monitoring protocols, employing advanced technology and highly trained personnel to oversee activities on its platform.
Upon detecting any suspicious activity, and in accordance with our processes and adhering to strict international protocols throughout our multinational presence, including Brazil, we promptly report them to the competent authorities.
Incidents of this nature highlight the critical importance of regulation within the industry, underscoring the need for a national structure to enable quick investigation and resolution. Betano remains committed to maintaining sports integrity and is ready to assist authorities when necessary.
Source: GMB
