Romário, author of the request (RQS 158/2024) that originated the CPI, thanked him for being chosen as rapporteur, committed to dedicating himself completely to the work of the collegiate and informed that, in his report, “the right will prevail, transparency , fairness and honesty.”
“I am sure that this CPI has some objectives and we will achieve them. We know the problems that our football has experienced (...) over the years. Here are people who definitely want to set the record straight, they want to open the black boxes of these betting houses that exist in our country, understand, know better what type of manipulation has been taking place and who are the authors and actors of these manipulations,” said Romário.
The complaints to be investigated by the CPI involve 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.
Kajuru stated that the CPI should begin work next week and that the intention, as he explained, is to invite the owner of the Sociedade Anônima do Futebol (SAF) of Botafogo, John Textor, as the first witness. He also said that “all of Brazil is waiting [for Textor] (…) he will be our first guest. Brazil wants to know the evidence he has, the recordings he has, it would really be the bombastic start of this CPI.”
In an interview, Textor stated that he had recordings that would prove the existence of refereeing corruption in the Brazilian Football Championship.
Kajuru also informed that, by consensus, the CPI will meet every Wednesday at 2pm. Exceptionally, when a longer testimony is planned, the commission may also meet on Monday, at 3 pm.
In the opinion of the vice-president, senator Eduardo Girão, the CPI will have the mission of recovering the credibility and essence of football which, according to him, is being affected by allegations of corruption and illegalities in sports betting.
“With the advent of sports betting, the risk became very clear, the great threat that Brazilian sport is suffering, especially when it comes to football. I believe that this team that is here has everything it takes to score a goal, it has experience in its life, especially Senator Kajuru and Senator Romário. They have a past life in sport, in sports chronicle, they are references in Brazil in relation to this, and whatever I can do, I will do. To collaborate, to seek to correct what is wrong and punish those responsible. So that the CPI can remove from the bowels, the rot, the underworld, this scourge that is sports betting.”
Measurements
Kajuru also informed that one of the punishment measures to be taken by the CPI, if the collegiate comes to the conclusion, with evidence, that games were manipulated, will be the request for the Court to ban the person responsible from football.
“Whoever commits this type of crime will be banned from football. It's not this nonsense of sentencing for a year, suspending for 90 days, there's no such thing. You will be banned. You will have to look for another profession to work. And if he is not from Brazil, the person will be banned from Brazil, he will not even enter the country,” he said.
Composition
The CPiae will be composed of 11 full senators and 7 substitutes, lasting 180 days. To date, the names defined as holders are:
As substitutes, the following senators were announced:
Source: GMB
