SPORTS BETTING
Brazil – Public Ministry of Rio Grande do Norte launches match fixing probe
By James - 4 April 2024
The Public Ministry of Rio Grande do Norte (MPRN) has launched a match fixing probe called “Own Goal.” Search and seizure warrants were executed in the municipalities of Ceará-Mirim and Rio Branco. At least six people are suspected of being involved so far.
The Public Ministry stated that the match-fixing scheme occurred in championships organized by the North-Rio-Grandense Football Federation (FNF) with bets being placed online.
“The MPRN already has evidence that there are bettors who benefit from participating directly or from privileged information; that there are recruiters who offer money to the technical staff of the involved teams to obtain rigged results; there are also players who are protagonists on the field; and still possible directors and/or coaches complicit or involved in the alleged scheme,” the MPRN said in a statement.
In January, the FNF reported to the Public Ministry suspicions of match-fixing in two matches of the 2024 Potiguar Championship the professional football league in the state. The suspect matches occurred between ABC and Força e Luz on January 17 and a match between Globo FC and Santa Cruz de Natal on January 21. The suspicious matches were reported to the FNF by a company hired by the CBF to monitor fraud on betting sites, as reported by the president of the FNF, José Vanildo da Silva.
Match fixing in Brazilian football is now once again in the spotlight as a parliamentary inquiry commission (CPI) into match fixing in Brazilian football has been approved by senators. The CPI on Sports Betting is in response to a request filed by former football player and lawmaker Senator Romário who said that he wanted to open a parliamentary inquiry commission into the matter. The CPI will investigate facts related to allegations and suspicions of manipulation in the sport involving athletes, officials, and betting companies.
When filing his request the senator highlighted a report from Sportradar to justify the need for the inquiry. Sportradar Integrity Services, a unit of Sportradar recently published its annual report, ‘Betting Corruption and Match-fixing in 2023’. It reported that compared to 2022, there was a notable decline in suspicious matches detected in Brazil (-44), although it still retained the top spot globally. This week Senator Jorge Kajuru announced that the inquiry into match fixing in football will begin this month.
