The Sports Betting CPI was requested by Senator Romário (PL-RJ) and will be composed of 11 sitting senators and 7 substitutes, lasting 180 days. The collegiate will investigate facts related to allegations and suspicions of manipulation of results in Brazilian football, involving players, managers and betting companies.
In his application, Romário states that sports betting currently generates a lot of money and that the possible enticement of players and managers to manipulate results could put the credibility of the games at risk.
“It is worth remembering that football is an important economic activity in our country, which generates tens of thousands of jobs and drives an important direct and indirect income generation chain. It is, therefore, the State's duty to regulate and supervise its activities, in the name of the public interest”, argues the senator.
In a speech on March 6, Romário said that, in recent months, several allegations of manipulation of results in Brazilian football games have emerged, with a possible connection to sports betting.
“After years of a completely unregulated market and the enormous amount of money that the sector moves, we can no longer close our eyes to what has been happening to the integrity of our sport, which is the No. 1 and most popular sport on the planet, the passion of everyone, not just Brazilians, but all of us in the world who love football.”
The company Sportradar, said the senator, recently released a report that places 109 football games last year under suspicion of manipulation.
“This is absurd, at least in my view and understanding. This places us as the country with the highest number of matches analyzed in this condition”, added Romário.
Source: Senado Agency
