Rapporteur proposes four bills to prevent match-fixing, does not indicate operators involvement

The Parliamentary Commission of Investigation (CPI) created to investigate the practice of match-fixing in football did not fulfill its main objective, to analyze and prevent criminal action against the sport. After listening to dozens of agents involved, rapporteur Felipe Carreras (PSB-PE) presented his report, even before the work was completed.

In the document, Carreras asks that the document be forwarded to the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), “so that recommendations for expanding and strengthening institutional mechanisms for preventing and repressing manipulation of sports competitions can be evaluated”. Furthermore, he requests that the Report be sent to the Federal Executive Branch, “so that the convenience and opportunity for Brazil to join the Macolin Convention, which deals with the manipulation of sports competitions, can be assessed.”

The extensive document reports on the way in which the CPI was conducted, the hearings carried out during the period the Commission was in force (including a transcription of most of the sections discussed in the committee room).

In his conclusions, Felipe Carreras admits that “it is clear that Brazilian football (and sport in general) is very exposed to the criminal practice of manipulating results, due to the growth of the sports betting market. This is, in fact, a global challenge, as it is faced by several other countries. Given this scenario, it is up to this Parliament to propose measures that can, in some way, prevent this type of practice, guaranteeing sporting integrity.”

Even though he does not point anything towards the betting houses, the rapporteur states that “State control over these activities [of the bookmakers], therefore, is fundamental to ensure the fairness of the games, the safety of bettors and the correct collection of taxes. For no other reason, the Chamber of Deputies is already focusing on regulating this activity. However, there is no point in developing regulations if people can continue betting freely in institutions that do not follow the rules imposed in our country.”

For him, “it is therefore prudent to approve a legislative proposal that criminalizes both the conduct of those who operate the fixed-odd betting lottery without prior authorization and of those who carry out, mediate or contribute for placing a fixed-odd bet in an institution that has not been granted a license by the competent body.”

Finally, the deputy ends his report by suggesting “the presentation of 4 (four) Bills, with a view to avoiding the repetition of the illicit acts investigated by this Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry in the course of its work.”

They are, in the understanding of Felipe Carreras:

1. Bill to determine that, in cases of manipulation of results, the sports justice system must guarantee that the penalties applied are proportional and consistent with the principle of equality;
2. Bill to criminalize the conduct of a manager, director or coach who fails to report to the competent authority the commission of a crime against the uncertainty of the sporting result of which he or she became aware whilst carrying out his or her duties or as a result of them;
3. Bill to typify the conduct of carrying out, intermediating or contributing to the carrying out of a fixed-odd bet in an institution to which a grant has not been granted by the competent body; and
4. Bill to prohibit placing bets on individual actions or conduct in sports matches and on the repetition of overpayments relating to prize values for bettors who participate in a scheme to manipulate the results of sports matches.

Source: GMB