Senator Jorge Kajuru (PSB-GO), president of the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry (CPI) on Sports Betting, requested an extension of activities for 45 days. Initially, the deadline for the end of activities would be February 15th.
Senator Romário’s (PL-RJ) report was not presented as planned. The meeting for the presentation was scheduled for Tuesday (12), and the vote would take place on Wednesday (13).
Kajuru justified the request in a request to the General Secretariat of the Board. He highlighted the lack of a minimum quorum for the vote. For this, at least six senators are needed.
Senator Jorge Kajuru stated: “The rapporteur, Senator Romário, is ready to present the final report. However, there is no guarantee of a minimum quorum (six senators) for voting this week.
Given this scenario, we present this request as a precautionary measure to ensure the effective completion of CPIMJAE’s work.”
Objectives of the Betting CPI
The Betting CPI began activities in April 2024, under the presidency of Senator Kajuru. The main objective is to investigate allegations of manipulation in football games linked to sports betting. The suspicions involve players, managers and betting companies.
During the work, the CPI heard the presidents of Botafogo, John Textor, São Paulo, Julio Cesar Casares, and Palmeiras, Leila Pereira. Between April and December 2024, the collegiate held 31 meetings with players, managers and referees.
Furthermore, the CPI requested information from the Federal Police about the international transfer of businessman William Pereira Rogatto. Known as the “king of relegation”, Rogatto gave a statement in October and has been imprisoned since November by Interpol, in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates.
Report results
The almost 700-page report, prepared by Senator Romário, calls for the indictment of three people: William Pereira Rogatto, Thiago Chambó Andrade and Bruno Tolentino Coelho.
The document points out that they violated articles 199 and 200 of Law 14,957, of 2023, the General Sports Law. The penalties provided for are imprisonment for two to six years and payment of a fine.
Illegal practices include “giving or promising a material or non-material advantage with the aim of altering or falsifying the result of a sporting competition or event associated with it” (art. 199) and “frauding, by any means, or contributing to the fraud, in any way, of the result of a sporting competition or event associated with it” (art. 200).
Bruno Tolentino Coelho is the uncle of midfielder Lucas Paquetá, who plays for West Ham in England and the Brazilian national team. According to bank statements analyzed by the CPI, he was among the suspected bettors who bet on yellow cards allegedly forced by Paquetá.
Furthermore, Tolentino carried out 258 financial transactions for himself, totaling R$839,696.44, and made a payment of R$30,000 to player Luiz Henrique, formerly of Botafogo, who received a suspicious yellow card while playing for Betis, in Spain.
