The athlete was not present at the trial, nor was his defense. The prosecution used as evidence the video of the penalty kick against Esportivo during Gauchão and conversations intercepted by the Public Ministry of Goiás. The punishment was by majority vote.
Nikolas was not denounced by the MP-GO because he admitted the crime and made an agreement to collaborate with the investigations. Another seven players, including two who played for Juventude in 2022, became defendants and will respond in court for crimes whose sentences can reach six years in prison.
The investigations proved that the gang that recruited athletes to manipulate games played in at least two games of state tournaments that year, both in the 7th round: Caxias 3x1 São Luiz and Esportivo 0x0 Novo Hamburgo. In both games, the offer was for the commission of penalties.
Nikolas, formerly of Novo Hamburgo, received R$5,000 (US$ 1,000) in advance to generate a penalty in the game against Esportivo. He entered the pitch at 18 minutes of the second half and committed the penalty at 30, which ended up wasted by the rival team.
The MP's complaint brings screenshots of the Novo Hamburgo player's conversations with one of the recruiters on WhatsApp. About two hours before the game, he reassures the bettor.
"My first move in the area is serious foul. Bad luck," says the player.
On the same night after the match, he again exchanged messages with one of the criminals and was congratulated for having committed the penalty, before receiving a new proposal to participate in the scheme in the round of the following weekend.
"No, this is... man talk. If I said I'm going to do it, I'm going to do it, understand? That's it, I knew I was going to enter the game, so there was no mistake," said the player in an audio message.
Source: g1
