The Federal Police (PF) indicted Bruno Henrique, a Flamengo striker, accused of rigging the result of a 2023 Brasileirão match against Santos. The PF report presented images of conversations between the athlete and family members, held in the days leading up to the match.
This Sunday (20), in a report shown on Fantástico, criminal lawyer Ricardo Pieri Nunes, responsible for Bruno Henrique’s defense, declared that the messages presented do not reflect the entire context.
Ricardo Pieri Nunes stated: “The athlete Bruno Henrique is known and respected for his simplicity and commitment to the sport. He has never been involved in betting schemes. On the contrary, he believes that the betting business should be subject to increasing restrictions by the authorities.
The distortions that are being caused by the interpretation and improper dissemination of private messages, out of context, will be clarified in the course of the process. The athlete trusts that the Judiciary will timely correct the injustice that is being committed.”
Ricardo Pieri Nunes has played for Flamengo in other situations. In 2019, he worked on the Ninho tragedy, when ten youth athletes died in a fire that occurred in the club’s accommodation.
Furthermore, he defended Bruno Henrique in 2020 after the player was accused of using a fake driver’s license.
In April 2022, after confessing, Bruno Henrique signed a Non-Prosecution Agreement (NPP) with the courts. As part of the agreement, he paid a fine of R$100,000 and donated funds to four non-profit organizations.
Understand the case of Bruno Henrique
Bruno Henrique is currently facing charges based on article 200 of the General Sports Law — which states that defrauding the outcome of a sporting event in any way carries a sentence of two to six years in prison. The athlete is also facing charges of fraud, which carries a sentence of between one and five years in prison.
In the sports field, Flamengo may suffer more consequences. The penalty could be up to two years of suspension and even a ban from football. Operation Maximum Penalty, originated in 2023, punished athletes involved in gambling cases, registering suspensions of 360 to 720 days, in addition to permanent bans.
Despite the indictment, the player continued with the Flamengo delegation to Quito, Ecuador. The team will face LDU this Tuesday, at 7 pm, valid for the third round of the Libertadores group stage.
