In the city of São Gabriel (RS), the local Civil Police launched Operation Red Card. This is an investigation into the Rio Grande do Sul club of the same name, on suspicion of match-fixing.
The crimes under investigation are fraud in sports competitions, falsification of documents, identity theft, and criminal association. The team under investigation is Esporte Clube São Gabriel, a team from the city that competes in the Third Division of the State Championship and the FGF Cup.
The inquiry refers to the team’s participation in the Copinha, a second-semester tournament organized by the Rio Grande do Sul Football Federation (FGF). More specifically, it concerns the match in which the team suffered a 7-0 defeat against Internacional’s under-20 team.
Other cases of match-fixing
The operation, coordinated by the Organized Crime Money Laundering Repression Unit, has already executed four search and seizure warrants against the club.
However, the incidents occurred after the match against São Paulo de Rio Grande, valid for the last round of the first phase of the Third Division. Today, the club is at the bottom of Group B in the competition.
Searches were conducted in the locker rooms and other areas of the Dr. Silvio de Faria Correa Municipal Stadium. The residences of club officials, coaches, and athletes were also included in the operation. Police seized documents, cell phones, and computers. Following this, interrogations will be conducted with those involved, and the seized items will be analyzed.
What triggered the investigation?
According to police chief Max Otto Ritter, the investigations were triggered by complaints received through the Civil Police’s intelligence channels. Furthermore, the Rio Grande do Sul Football Federation, which is cooperating with the investigation, also filed a criminal complaint with the police.
According to the police, the starting point of the investigations was the 7-0 thrashing of São Gabriel by Internacional’s under-20 team, played at Celeiro de Ases, in Alvorada, on October 29th.
According to information from the case file, the match presented evidence of match-fixing, partly due to a prior complaint alleging that there would be approximately five goals in the second half. The score at halftime was 1-0.
Currently, there is no evidence of Inter’s involvement in the manipulation. Therefore, these irregularities are still under investigation, both in the FGF Cup and in the Third Division. Some of those involved are being monitored for similar conduct in other states, such as Sergipe, Paraíba, Acre, Roraima, Rio de Janeiro, and Paraná.