Prosecutor says there is evidence of manipulation of results of games outside Brazil

The prosecutor investigating a network that manipulated results of football matches to benefit gamblers said he had discovered evidence of irregularities committed by players outside Brazil.

Fernando Cesconetto, from the Public Ministry of Goiás, told the Associated Press news agency that the case of Max Alves, who was mentioned in the investigation, could be investigated in the United States.

The Colorado Rapids, from the main division of American football, confirmed in a statement that it had preventively removed a player, whose identity it did not reveal.

The prosecutor confirmed that the conversations intercepted by the investigators contain contacts between Brazilian gamblers and players outside Brazil.

“Share our investigation so it can be investigated there [nos Estados Unidos] it’s the natural path”, confirmed Cesconetto.

The three-match investigation began in November and ended up expanding to 13 games, some in lower leagues in Brazilian football, which took place between the second half of 2022 and the first three months of this year, the prosecutor said.

Investigators said players were paid between $10,000 and $20,000 (between €9,200 and €18,400) to carry out specific actions, such as receiving yellow cards and committing penalties, with the aim of favoring punters.

The Brazilian press reported that suspects mentioned having contacts in Greece and Lithuania, something that Cesconetto did not confirm.

“There is still a lot of material to be analyzed,” said the prosecutor. “We are more focused on what happened here in Brazil,” he added.

Part of the cooperation with foreign authorities can also come from the Brazilian Federal Police.

Justice Minister Flávio Dino said last week that he would launch a nationwide investigation into match-fixing. Parliament is also expected to launch an investigation this week.

Four clubs in the Brazilian top flight suspended five players last week.

Athletico Paranaense, finalist of the 2022 Libertadores Cup, suspended Ecuadorian Bryan Garcia and Brazilian Pedrinho, who have already been removed from the team “until the facts disclosed are rigorously investigated”.

Fluminense, Cruzeiro, this coached by the Portuguese Pepa, and América Mineiro also manifested themselves in identical terms and suspended one player each.

The Rio de Janeiro team suspended defender Vítor Mendes, while Cruzeiro suspended midfielder Richard and América right defender Nino Paraíba.

Although none of the players appears on the list of seven footballers accused on Tuesday of alleged participation in the manipulation, they are on the list of suspects or among those mentioned in the conversations intercepted by the investigators.

A court in the state of Goiás accepted last week the Public Ministry’s complaint against 16 people investigated for allegedly participating in a match-fixing scheme, including seven footballers.