The report, which is also in the possession of the Federal Police and the Public Prosecutor's Office of the Federal District, complements a previous document from the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA), which gave rise to the investigation that resulted in the operation launched this Tuesday (5) against the Flamengo player.
The star is suspected of having manipulated his own behavior on the field, intentionally receiving cards during a 2023 Brazilian Championship match against Santos. The objective, according to the authorities, was to benefit family members who had previously bet on this punishment. The player pleads not guilty to the charges.
According to the Sportradar alert, the bookmaker Betano received nine maximum bets in a three-hour period on the possibility of Bruno Henrique receiving a card. The report highlights that 98% of the volume of bets regarding cards was directed to the Flamengo player. In response to this activity, Betano suspended the possibility of betting on this event one day before the game.
The Sportradar document also contradicts Bruno Henrique's defense, which argues that the possibility of receiving a yellow card would be natural, since the player was already suspended with two cards. The report highlights that, although there are sporting reasons that could justify the situation, the volume of bets raises concerns about the integrity of the game.
Although the Superior Court of Sports Justice (STJD) closed the case on September 30, not considering the documents from Sportradar and IBIA sufficient to open a sports investigation, the possibility of reopening the case remains if new evidence is presented by the authorities.
In addition to Betano, another betting house, galera.bet, also reported unusual movements related to the possibility of Bruno Henrique receiving a card in the match. Information about these two companies is not included in the Sportradar report, but is included in the IBIA document.
In an official statement, Gaeco (Special Task Force to Combat Organized Crime) and the Federal Police reported that they launched an operation to investigate cards received by the athlete in a match against Santos, for the 2023 Brasileirão, on November 1 of last year (see the moves in the video above).
In total, more than 50 federal police officers and six prosecutors from the Gaeco-DF have already begun to execute 12 search and seizure warrants issued by the Federal District Court in the cities of Rio de Janeiro (including CT Ninho do Urubu), Belo Horizonte, Vespasiano, Lagoa Santa and Ribeirão das Neves.
In addition to Bruno Henrique, several bettors and relatives of the striker are also being investigated.
"The investigation began following a communication made by the Integrity Unit of the Brazilian Football Confederation. According to reports from the International Betting Integrity Association and Sportradar, which perform risk analysis, there were suspicions of manipulation of the card market in the Brazilian Championship match," wrote the MPDFT.
"During the investigation, data obtained from the betting houses, through the legal representatives appointed by the Betting Prizes Secretariat of the Ministry of Finance, indicated that the bets had been made by relatives of the player and by another group still under investigation," it added.
What happened during the match?
According to information gathered by authorities, Bruno Henrique allegedly forced a yellow card during a match against Santos on November 1, 2023, for the Brazilian Championship. The action was allegedly motivated to benefit family members.
The striker was punished by referee Rafael Rodrigo Klein (RS) with a yellow card in the second half's injury time for a foul on the pitch. After the warning, when he complained about the decision, he was warned again and sent off from the match. In the match, Santos won the match 2-1, at Maracanã, for the Brazilian Championship.
"Upon detecting any suspicious activity, and in accordance with our processes and adhering to strict international protocols throughout our multinational presence, including Brazil, we promptly reported it to the appropriate authorities," Betano said in a statement directly from Greece, the company's headquarters.
According to Betano, which does not mention Bruno Henrique's case specifically in the note, each country must have a "national structure to allow for rapid investigation and resolution. Considering this activity, Betano suspended this possibility one day before the start of the game," says the Sportradar report sent to FIFA and obtained by ge.
Read Betano’s statement in full:
Betano is part of Kaizen Gaming, one of the world’s leading GameTech operators. The company adheres to strict monitoring protocols, employing advanced technology and highly trained personnel to oversee activity on its platform.
When we detect any suspicious activity, and in accordance with our processes and adhering to strict international protocols across our multinational presence, including Brazil, we promptly report it to the appropriate authorities.
Incidents of this nature underscore the critical importance of regulation within the industry, highlighting the need for a national framework to enable swift investigation and resolution. Betano remains committed to maintaining sporting integrity and stands ready to assist authorities where necessary.
Source: GMB
