SPORTS BETTING
Textor testimony heralds dramatic start to match fixing inquiry
By James - 29 April 2024
The National Association of Football Referees (Anaf), has suggested that Brazil’s top league Brasileirão Championship be suspended. The announcement comes after John Textor, owner of football club SAF Botafogo appeared before the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry (CPI) on Sports Betting.
“Referees need to unite and stop the Brasileirão. The competition is in question after Textor’s accusations that put VAR under suspicion. There is no other way: it is necessary to stop the Brasileirão 2024 before VAR becomes a police matter,” Salmo Valentim the head of the Anaf said in statement. “I have received numerous calls from dissatisfied referees and there is already a large group that, in protest to what is happening, wants to interrupt the Brazilian championship as early as the next rounds.”
The Parliamentary Inquiry Commission (CPI) on Sports Betting (CPiae) was established earlier this month. Senator Romário was chosen as the rapporteur. The presidency and vice-presidency were taken by Senators Jorge Kajuru and Eduardo Girão respectively. Before appearing before the CPI Textor claimed to have recordings that would prove corruption in the football refereeing of the Brazilian Football Championship.
Textor was subsequently called before the CPI as a witness. During the hearing Textor mentioned that the technology used by company Good Game! – hired by him for match analysis – does not reveal why the match was fixed, but it indicates how it was done. Good Game! Is a French company that evaluates arbitration with the help of artificial intelligence. Textor said that the evidence of his complaints would be handed over to the CPI in a secret meeting.
According to the businessman, if the evidence is taken into account, the Superior Sports Justice Tribunal (STJD) – an entity linked to the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) and independent from the Judiciary – as well as the police and the CPI could take action.
However since appearing before the CPI Jorge Kajuru has threatened Textor with expulsion from the country and removal from the club if he does not provide concrete evidence of match manipulation even though he provided evidence that seemed to convince lawmakers at the time.
“Everyone is praising me, thank God, for the decision I made regarding John Textor. If he doesn’t prove anything, his punishment will be banishment from Brazil. He will have to be expelled from the country, never enter Brazil again, and have to leave Botafogo. I know the Botafogo fans will be upset with me, but it makes no sense. An American comes here, causes a mess, says he has a lot of things, audio, allegations, evidence, documents, where are they? For now, there are only indications. For me, it’s banishment for sure,” – said Kajuru on his show “Hora do Kajuru”, on TV Goiânia.
