Romário also requests the indictment of businessmen William Pereira Rogatto and Thiago Chambó Andrade, also for match-fixing crimes. The CPI decided not to indict businessman Bruno Lopez, who confessed to participating in match-fixing, due to an agreement reached with the Public Prosecutor's Office.
“This CPI showed that practically all recent competition manipulation scandals were related to bets on isolated events, especially those involving renowned athletes,” Romário emphasizes in his report.
The senator added that these one-off bets would facilitate manipulations by gamblers and criminal groups, without necessarily affecting the outcome of the match. He advocated restricting this activity and recommended that sports entities inform athletes about current legislation and possible punishments.
Proposed legislation
The final report proposes a constitutional amendment and three bills to curb game manipulation.
The suggested constitutional amendment makes it mandatory, when applicable, for any citizen to appear before parliamentary inquiry committees (CPIs), including the possibility of using police force. This proposal was presented after the Federal Supreme Court (STF) decided that influencer Deolane Bezerra would not need to testify at the CPI on Game Manipulation and Sports Betting.
The first of the three proposed bills increases the penalty for the crime of fraud in the results of a sporting event from four to ten years in prison and a fine. The bill also establishes the crime of fraud in the betting market; provides for punishment for athletes who provide relevant information not disclosed to the public that is used to obtain an advantage in this market; and establishes the crime of disclosing or advertising unrealistic winnings from bets.
The other recommended bill provides for mandatory notices discouraging gambling and warnings about its harmful effects, to be published by the operating agents.
In addition, the report proposes a third bill, with the objective of restricting the offer of bets on isolated events that occur during sporting events.
All documentation produced by the CPI must be shared with the Federal Police and the Public Prosecutor's Office of the Union, so that the investigations can continue. The information will also be sent to other institutions, such as the Civil House and the Ministries of Finance, Justice, Sports and Health, so that each one can take specific measures related to their respective areas.
Source: Agência Senado
