The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) took swift action after an unusual event during the match between Athletico and Cruzeiro for the Brasileirão. Last Monday (28), the CBF asked Sportradar, a company specializing in betting monitoring, for a detailed report on the game.
This action was motivated by the expulsion of Cruzeiro player Rafa Silva, which occurred just three seconds after the start of the game. The integrity unit of the Brazilian entity considered the expulsion of Rafa Silva, who elbowed an opponent, to be atypical and outside of the usual standards.
Sportradar analyzes matches and detects suspicious movements in the national and international betting market, suggesting possible manipulation of results. Therefore, the CBF, through its integrity unit, seeks to quickly identify any sign of irregularity.
Although the document sent to Sportradar does not directly mention Rafa Silva, the CBF highlighted the need for a closer look at the clash in question.
Furthermore, the entity questioned whether Sportradar had already shared information about the game with FIFA, with whom it also has a contract.
After Sportradar report, CBF may call authorities
If the report reveals something out of the ordinary, the CBF plans to forward the findings to the competent authorities, such as the Federal Public Ministry, the Federal Police and the Superior Court of Sports Justice (STJD).
It is worth noting that, although Sportradar reports can serve as evidence in investigations, they do not constitute definitive evidence to convict players.
The episode generated repercussions in Cruzeiro, which decided to fine Rafa Silva due to his early expulsion, which resulted in a 3-0 defeat.
Ultimately, after the incident, Silva publicly apologized. “I know I made a mistake and ended up compromising the team in the match. I was very happy with the opportunity to return to the field and with a great desire to help, especially after three months of a difficult and complicated recovery. I apologize once again. I will work to win back everyone’s trust.”
