Former football player and majority partner of Cruzeiro, Ronaldo Fenômeno commented on cases of match-fixing investigated in Brazilian football. One of Raposa’s athletes had his name mentioned in the inquiry and was removed from the club’s activities.
For the five-time world champion with the Brazilian team in 2002, everyone who is involved in this scheme needs to be severely punished, serving as an example to discourage others who might think of doing illegal things related to the sport.
“Of course, it saddens me a lot to see the history of the sport being tarnished in this way; the fraudulent activities of a few discrediting the many others without any involvement; the lack of ethics, principles, integrity and, above all, respect for the fans on the part of those involved, dirtying the image of football as a whole”, he posted.
On the other hand, Ronaldo mentioned that he feels relieved to follow a serious investigation process and the “quick action of the clubs in support of the authorities”.
“It is a relief to see such a serious operation unfold in the swift action of clubs in support of the competent authorities to remove who should be removed, investigate what should be investigated and punish who should be punished, for the sake of true football, greater than all of it”.
Ronaldo still believes that this could be an opportunity for ‘maturity for the entire productive chain of our football’. “The current scenario, therefore, despite being quite unhappy, is an opportunity for the entire productive chain of our football to mature and brings important reflections on the sports betting market in the country”.
Ronaldo’s official position on match-fixing cases:
“I couldn’t help but position myself after the latest regrettable news about the involvement of athletes in match-fixing schemes and bets.
As a former player, a shareholder in two clubs and a football enthusiast, of course it saddens me a lot to see the sport’s history tarnished in this way; the fraudulent activities of a few discrediting the many others without any involvement; the lack of ethics, principles, integrity and, above all, respect for the fans on the part of those involved, dirtying the image of football as a whole.
Sport that changed my life (and changes so many people); which is the dream of the kids who idolize those who are “up there”; that there are so many players honoring the place they arrived, the space they occupy and their power of influence.
On the other hand, it is a relief to see such a serious operation unfold in the swift action of clubs in support of the competent authorities to remove those who should be removed, investigate what should be investigated and punish who should be punished, for the sake of true football. , bigger than all that. Clean, ethical play, without manipulation and with total respect for what is most valuable to us: the fans.
As a businessman, I cannot fail to emphasize that the betting business is a legalized activity whose industry, like sports, is a victim – and not guilty – of third-party crimes that are part of these schemes. Bookmakers even suffer huge losses from manipulations.
The current scenario, therefore, despite being quite unhappy, is an opportunity for the entire productive chain of our football to mature and brings important reflections on the sports betting market in the country.
Today, the need for regulation of the sector is wide open, which, in addition to leveraging the billionaire market, would make the action of fraudsters very difficult – protecting bookmakers, the consumer (who is the common bettor) and the dignity of sport, violated by schemes of manipulation”.
