The finding that the match-fixing scheme in football matches to favor gambling gangs is more worrying than previously thought. Investigations by the Public Ministry (MP) of Goiás revealed that, in addition to Série B, the fraud also affects Série A – which brings together the elite of Brazilian teams – and regional championships in at least five states.
The betting mafia began to be dismantled after a complaint by Vila Nova that gave rise to the ‘Maximum Penalty’ Operation. The hoax was only discovered because the plan didn't work out and leaked. In February of this year, the Justice of Goiás accepted the MP's complaint against 14 defendants - eight Serie B players and six members of the core of gamblers.
On Tuesday last week, the MP from Goiás launched the ‘Maximum Penalty’ Operation II, serving 20 search and seizure warrants and three pre-trial detention orders in six states. Investigations showed that the gang enticed athletes from Serie A as well, offering them between R$50,000 (US$ 10,000) and R$100,000 (US$ 20,000) to carry out actions such as forcing punishments with yellow and red cards or committing penalties. Fraudsters profited by betting on these scenarios on websites.
At least six Serie A matches between September 10 and November 10 last year, the final stretch of the Brasileirão, are under suspicion. An athlete has already confessed to having participated in the fraudulent scheme in the game between Juventude and Palmeiras.
A predictable scenario given the multiplication of betting sites, the manipulation of results to favor fraudsters challenges federations and clubs around the world, despite the surveillance strategies adopted. The monitoring agency hired by the CBF identified last year 139 games with atypical movements in bookmakers, 56% above the previous one. This year, 23 have already aroused suspicion.
Scanning needs to be done systematically in order to identify signs of fraud, and suspected cases must be referred to the police and MP for investigation. It is essential to adopt the same rigor off the pitch as imposed by the referees on it. Only law enforcement will discourage criminals, be they businessmen, gamblers, groomers or athletes.
Manipulating results is a serious matter. It doesn't just affect the game under suspicion, but the entire tournament, since fraud can have an impact on the score and, consequently, on the championship standings. In fierce competitions, such as Séries A and B of the Brasileirão, any point lost can seal the fate of a club.
At a time when betting is proliferating, federations, clubs, athletes, companies and everyone involved in the world of football are facing a problem that needs to be faced. You cannot condone any fraud. Not just because teams can be harmed, but because fans, who pay for the spectacle, don't deserve to be deceived. Football's credibility is at stake.
Source: O Globo
