The deputies of the sports betting CPI, which investigates, in the Chamber, manipulation of results in football matches, meet this Wednesday, 12th, to analyze requests that ask for the presence of guests.
The members of the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry wish to hear the Minister of Finance, Fernando Haddad, bookmakers, referees, players and members of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF).
The last meeting was on June 27th. The forecast is that deputies vote on 33 requests this Wednesday. The CPI began on May 17, to investigate manipulations in games of the Brasileirão series A and B and state championships, between 2022 and 2023.
The request to receive Haddad is a request for information. Members of the sports betting CPI want to know how the betting regulation process is going in Brazil, with a view to expanding public safety resources.
Referees and CBF representative
Deputies can also request the presence of the president of the Arbitration Commission of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), Wilson Luiz Seneme. They want Seneme to explain the commission’s guidance to the referees on suspicious moves.
In addition, referees who have been to investigated games may also be invited. They are: Bráulio da Silva Machado, Edina Alves Batista, Marcelo de Lima Henrique, Caio Max Augusto Vieira, Jefferson Ferreira de Moraes and Dyorgines Jose Padovani de Andrade.
Bookmakers
The parliamentarians of the betting CPI intend to hear representatives of associations, institutes and betting movements, in addition to the main companies in the segment.
Members of the Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming (IBJR) and the National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) must attend the commission. The IBJR and the ANJL were created in March of this year.
They bring together the major bookmakers, such as Bet365, Flutter, Entain, Betsson Group, Betway Group, Yolo Group, Netbet Group, KTO Group and Rei do Pitaco. Owners of EstrelaBet and Pixbet must also attend the CPI.
In addition to the IBJR and ANJL, a representative of the International Association for Integrity in Betting (ABIA) must participate on the committee. The group represents 120 betting companies. The commission should also receive components from Movimento Brasil sem Azar, contrary to the legalization of betting.
Players and former athletes of the Sports Betting CPI
Sports betting CPI parliamentarians must also evaluate the request for participation of athletes involved or mentioned in the manipulation scheme. The list includes:
• Midfielder Nikolas Farias, formerly of Novo Hamburgo (RS). He was punished by the Court of Sports Justice of Rio Grande do Sul (TJD-RS) for 720 days (two years) and a fine of R$ 80 thousand. Farias was the first investigated player to be punished.
• Defender Allan Godoi, formerly of Sampaio Corrêa, currently with Operário (PR). He was denounced by the Public Ministry of Goiás (MPGO) for alleged involvement in the scheme, but was acquitted by the Superior Court of Sports Justice (STJD).
• Festo Omukoto, Kenyan player who got involved in a betting fraud scheme in Kenya and, later, acted in a trap to arrest a gang. Currently, he lectures on the danger of players getting involved in such schemes.
• Gabriel Tota, a former midfielder for Juventude, is one of the defendants in the MPGO operation. He was banned from football by the STJD.
• Ygor Catatau, formerly of Sampaio Corrêa and currently at Sepahan, in Iran. He was banned from Brazilian football and received a fine of R$70,000 in June. The STJD auditors understood that he acted as an intermediary for the group of five Sampaio Corrêa players investigated in the scheme.
• André Luiz “Queixo”, formerly of Sampaio Corrêa and currently at Ituano. He was judged by the STJD to pay a fine of R$50,000. Follows as a football player.
• Paulo Sérgio, formerly of Sampaio Corrêa and currently at Operário-PR. He was judged by the STJD and suspended for 720 days, in addition to having to pay a fine of R$70,000.
• Mateusinho, formerly of Sampaio Corrêa and currently in Cuiabá, was suspended by the STJD for 720 days and ordered to pay R$70,000.
• Richard Coelho, former midfielder for Ceará, played on loan for Cruzeiro and currently plays for Alanyaspor, in Turkey. It was mentioned in gamblers’ conversations.
• Right-back Severino de Ramos Clementino da Silva, known as Nino Paraíba, ex-Ceará and ex-América. His contract with the Minas Gerais team was terminated after being mentioned in the scheme.
• Onitlasi Moraes, formerly of Juventude, admitted to having participated in the manipulation. He says he received R$ 25,000 for yellow cards in two games. He made a deal with the authorities and was not prosecuted.
• Emilton Pedroso Domingues, known as Jarro Pedroso, was punished with a 720-day suspension and a fine of R$100,000 by the STJD, for his involvement in fraud.
