The Superior Court of Sports Justice (STJD) has opened an investigation to determine the possible participation of Bruno Henrique, a Flamengo striker, in a match-fixing scheme in Brazilian football.
The procedure was formalized after receiving evidence sent by the Federal Police, which had indicted the athlete the previous month, indicating suspicions of forcing a yellow card in the game against Santos, valid for the 2023 Brazilian Championship, benefiting bettors, including family members.
Last Monday, Luís Otávio Veríssimo Teixeira, president of the STJD, received the full investigation by the Federal Police. The president of the STJD appointed Maxwell Borges de Moura Vieira as the auditor responsible for the case.
He will have up to 15 days to present the report, with the possibility of an extension of another 15 days. As no one requested a preventive suspension, Bruno Henrique will continue to play for Flamengo during the ongoing process.
Flamengo guarantees that the athlete’s permanence in the team is supported by the presumption of innocence, awaiting the conclusion of the investigative procedure.
Since his indictment, Bruno Henrique has played six matches for Flamengo. He started three games and came on as a substitute in three others. He has not scored any goals or provided any assists during that period.
STJD Position
Luís Otávio Veríssimo Teixeira ordered, in a ruling, the opening of the investigation: “I inform that, in response to the sharing requests made by the President of the Superior Court of Sports Justice and the Attorney General of Sports Justice, the full copy of Police Inquiry No. 2024.0082027-CGRC/DICOR/PF (PJe No. 0741636-90.2024.8.07.0001) was officially forwarded to this Court by the Coordinator of Repression of Corruption of the Federal Police, Delegate Daniel Mostardeiro Cola, under the terms of express judicial authorization for ‘sharing the data of this investigation with the Superior Court of Sports Justice, as it is relevant to the activities carried out by said body’.
Considering the content shared on May 5, 2025 and based on the powers conferred by art. 81 of the Brazilian Code of Sports Justice (CBJD), I hereby order the opening of an investigation to investigate a possible disciplinary infraction committed by athlete Bruno Henrique Pinto, from Clube de Regatas do Flamengo (CRF), related to suspected manipulation of results.
Under the terms of art. 82 of the CBJD, the Processing Auditor, Dr. Maxwell Borges de Moura Vieira, will have a period of 15 (fifteen) days, extendable for the same period, to conduct the investigation and present a conclusive report. The STJD Prosecutor’s Office will be given access to follow up on this case.”
Confidentiality denied
Earlier this month, the Federal District Court rejected a request from Bruno Henrique’s relatives to place the investigation under seal. Judge Fernando Brandini Barbagalo also allowed the Federal Police to share the evidence obtained with the STJD.
Furthermore, the DF Court denied the athlete’s request to reconsider a previous decision — which authorized the sending of the same evidence to the CPI on Game Manipulation and Sports Betting, operating in the Senate.
Details of the investigation into Bruno Henrique’s conduct
The Federal Police indicted Bruno Henrique and nine other people last month for allegedly placing bets predicting that the Flamengo striker would receive a yellow card against Santos, knowing that the athlete himself would seek that punishment during the match.
In addition to the player, his brother, Wander Nunes Pinto Júnior, Ludymilla Araújo Lima, Wander’s wife, and Poliana Ester Nunes Cardoso, the striker’s cousin, were also indicted. The three are believed to have made bets in this context.
Another group of gamblers, according to the investigations, is made up of Claudinei Vitor Mosquete Bassan, Rafaela Cristina Elias Bassan, Henrique Mosquete do Nascimento, Andryl Sales Nascimento dos Reis, Max Evangelista Amorim and Douglas Ribeiro Pina Barcelos, all friends of Wander.
Bruno Henrique and Wander were charged under Article 200 of the General Sports Law, which refers to fraud or contributing to fraud in the outcome of a sports competition, and are subject to sentences ranging from two to six years in prison. They are also charged with fraud, which can result in imprisonment of up to five years. The other suspects were only charged with fraud.
In November last year, search and seizure operations were carried out at addresses linked to the player, including Flamengo’s Training Center. Bruno Henrique was at home at the time of the approach, when his cell phone was seized.
Conversations on devices between Bruno Henrique and family members
The Federal Police identified relevant conversations on the devices. In one of them, Bruno Henrique’s brother, Wander, asked when the athlete would receive the third yellow card, and the striker replied: “Against Santos.”
Thus, betting operators reported suspicious movements regarding the yellow card that Bruno Henrique received in the match against Santos, valid for the 31st round of the 2023 Brazilian Championship, in Brasília. The investigation began in August last year after these reports.
Alerts were issued by three bookmakers. In one of them, 98% of bets on cards were bets on Bruno Henrique. In another, the rate reached 95%.
The striker had, up until then, received five yellow cards in 22 games played in the championship. Bruno Henrique faced Santos on a suspended penalty and received the card in the second half’s injury time, when Flamengo was already behind on the scoreboard. He was then sent off by referee Rafael Klein after complaining.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Federal District will analyze the Federal Police report to decide whether to file a complaint.