The CPI for the Manipulation of Games and Sports Betting approved, this Tuesday (18), the invitation to player Lucas Paquetá. Paquetá plays for West Ham and the Brazilian national team, and the English Football Association reported him on suspicion of manipulation in four matches
“Paquetá forced yellow cards in four matches between November 2022 and August 2023. He had been the target of investigation since August last year, but had not yet been formally denounced”, highlighted senator Eduardo Girão (Novo-CE), vice-president. president of the collegiate, in his application (REQ 65/2024).
Thus, senator Jorge Kajuru (PSB-GO), president of the commission, also presented a request for an invitation to Paquetá (REQ 71/2024).
Approval of the Game Manipulation CPI for breach of confidentiality
The CPI approved the breaking of banking, telephone and telematic confidentiality of former referee Glauber do Amaral Cunha (REQ 70/2024). He is suspected of charging bribes for interfering in the result of a lower division game in the Rio de Janeiro championship.
Businessman John Textor, majority shareholder of Botafogo, presented the CPI with an audio of Cunha claiming to have scored a dubious penalty in a match. At a CPI meeting on May 13, the former referee preferred to remain silent.
William Rogatto investigation
The CPI also approved the breaking of confidentiality of William Pereira Rogatto and his company. He is being investigated for game manipulation in São Paulo, Sergipe and the Federal District.
According to Senator Romário (PL-RJ), rapporteur of the CPI, in his request (REQ 77/2024): “William Rogatto conducted, for at least four years, a scheme to manipulate results in football, operating in São Paulo, Sergipe and Federal District.
This highlighted him in two of the most important investigative operations in Brazil.” Therefore, Romário also called Rogatto to testify at the CPI as being investigated.
Other invitations
The CPI approved invitations to several personalities: former FIFA referee Manoel Serapião Filho; Salmo Valentim, president of the National Association of Football Referees; Rodrigo Alves, president of the Brazilian Sports Betting Association; Regis Dudena, from the Prizes and Betting Secretariat of the Ministry of Finance.
Also received invitations: Livia Martines Chanes, CEO of Nubank do Brasil; Rafael Castro de Matos, CEO of Stark Bank; Pedro Bramont, director at Banco do Brasil; Leonardo Baptista, CEO of Pay4Fun; Diego Perez, president of the Brazilian Fintech Association; and Guilherme Augusto Almeida Lima de Figueiredo, general manager of Betano in Brazil.
In addition to those mentioned, Leonardo David Penna de Moraes Cordeiro, partner at BET365 Loterias do Brasil, and Rômulo Meira Reis, former integrity officer at VAR, also received invitations.
Finally, the CPI requested information from the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) about the integrity officers who have worked at the entity since May 2022.
