Botafogo owner has said that Brazilian Championship games were targets of result manipulation
Directors of the CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation) stated that the entity is open to hearing the complaints from Botafogo owner, John Textor.
The Integrity officer, Eduardo Gussem, and the CBF Competitions director, Júlio Avellar, spoke on Monday (April 29, 2024) to the CPI for the Manipulation of Games and Sports Betting. John Textor has reported possible manipulations in Brazilian football matches. On April 22, he was heard by the CPI.
When responding to the senator Carlos Portinho (PL-RJ), director Júlio Avellar said that he was not personally contacted by John Textor, but noted that the CBF is open to receiving representatives from any affiliated club.
Gussem added that public authorities are responsible for analyzing possible evidence. In his opinion, however, the matter came to public knowledge from “inverted form”, as it would require more care with possible evidence. He also said that the CBF’s doors will always be open, but pointed out that contact needs to go beyond a conversation and indicate the evidence of the complaint.
“At this point, we are very much in the field of abstract rather than concrete statements and conclusions. The CBF is paying attention. If any serious news reaches the CBF, it will be sent immediately to the Courts, the Federal Police and the CPI”declared Gussem.
Portinho reported Textor’s version to the CPI, that he tried in various ways to formalize the complaints to the CBF, but without success. For Portinho, it would be important for the CBF to receive Textor and evaluate his complaints, even if it is to conclude that the suspicions are not valid.
“We here are not going to start any discussion. Our interest is the same: it is the preservation of the integrity of the sport”declared the senator.
The president of the CPI, senator Jorge Kajuru (PSB-GO), said he spoke with John Textor via videoconference. According to Kajuru, Textor reported that there are more “complete evidence” of manipulations that will still be handed over to the CPI.
Kajuru asked for urgency in the delivery of these documents, so that the issue of football does not “turn into a soap opera”. The senator also suggested to the president of the CBF, Ednaldo Rodrigues, that he ask John Textor for the same material that was delivered to the CPI.
“I think that if the president sees these images, together with the Arbitration Commission, it would be a huge kick. I’m sure that, if Ednaldo saw those images, he would take action.”
Bets
In the view of the vice-president of the CPI, senator Eduardo Girão (Novo-CE), there is a possible conflict of interest between the sponsorship of bookmakers and the administration of football championships by the CBF.
Girão said he was scared by what has been happening with football and has the perception of a degradation in recent times that coincides with the advent of sports betting. For Girão, Textor’s complaints need more attention, as he is “wanting to help Brazilian football”.
“I fear that the CBF is helping to kill the golden goose. This issue of sports betting is incompatible with football”said Girão.
Avelar responded that all suspicious reports are forwarded to the federations and competent bodies. According to Avellar, the CBF included integrity among the topics of its lectures for players, which addresses issues such as betting and manipulation. He denied, however, that he had been contacted by any player suspected of involvement in match-fixing.
For the senator Dr Hiran (PP-RR), Textor’s complaints deserve to be investigated, even for the fairness of Brazilian football and for the good of the CBF. The senator questioned Gussem about the criteria used by the CBF to sign a sponsorship agreement with the company Betano, a betting house.
Gussem responded that his unit is focused on integrity and responsibility related to possible match fixing. Therefore, he said, it is not possible to give details about the contract – administered by other sectors within the CBF. Gussem added that there are laws that deal with the matter and that the CBF seeks to follow the legislation.
Guild
Kajuru said he considered the statement made by Grêmio coach Renato “Gaúcho” Portaluppi after his team’s game against Bahia on April 27th to be serious. Renato complained about refereeing decisions and, in protest, removed all reserve players from the Grêmio bench before the game ended. In the press interview, he asked whether it would be important for those involved in football to pay more attention to the allegations made by John Textor, who has spoken about possible manipulations in national championship matches.
In the same vein, Senator Portinho classified Renato’s complaint, that a person outside the game had influenced the expulsion of an athlete from Grêmio, as “very serious”.
When questioning director Julio Avellar, senator Romário also cited the case of Grêmio and Bahia. Avelar stated that the person indicated by Renato was working on the match. According to the director, there was no external interference, as can be seen from the VAR audio of the match already released by the CBF.
Kajuru reported having been informed that there had been a change in the game summary, in the part indicating the role of the person identified by Renato as the author of the undue interference. Given the information, director Eduardo Gussem admitted the importance of the CBF investigating the complaint.
With information from Senate Agency.
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