This Tuesday (5), the Superior Court of Sports Justice (STJD) revealed that it archived the investigation into the cards received by Bruno Henrique, from Flamengo, in the match against Santos, for the 2023 Brazilian Championship.
The attacker is involved in an operation by the Federal Police and the Public Ministry of Rio de Janeiro, which is investigating possible manipulations in the confrontation.
Understand the investigation into the Bruno Henrique case
This Tuesday morning, in response to the PF and MP operation, the STJD released a note detailing the progress of the case. In August 2024, nine months after the event, the STJD was informed by Conmebol about Bruno Henrique’s suspicious behavior.
The entity then contacted the company Sportradar, which concluded that there were no irregularities. “The Prosecutor’s Office considered that the alert did not indicate any indication of the athlete’s economic benefit, since any profits from betting reported in the alert would be negligible, when compared to the player’s monthly salary”, stated the STJD.
During the confrontation between Flamengo and Santos, on November 1, 2023, Bruno Henrique would have received cards to favor bettors close to him. The player, who was hanging with two yellow cards, was warned again and, after challenging the referee, ended up being sent off.
Also this Tuesday, the Federal Police executed 12 search and seizure warrants in Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Vespasiano (MG), Lagoa Santa (MG) and Ribeirão das Neves (MG). In the capital of Rio de Janeiro, Ninho do Urubu, Flamengo’s headquarters in Gávea, and the athlete’s house were inspected. Bruno Henrique’s computer and cell phone were seized.
Despite the investigations, Bruno Henrique participated in training at Ninho do Urubu, before the trip to Belo Horizonte, where Flamengo faces Cruzeiro. The football department decided to keep the player on the squad, and he is listed for the game.
“The Club has not yet had access to the investigation files, as the case is being carried out under judicial secrecy, but it is important to note that, at the same time as it will support the authorities, it will give full support to the athlete Bruno Henrique, who enjoys our trust and, like any person, enjoys the presumption of innocence.
Flamengo finally clarifies that there was an investigation in the sporting field, before the STJD, which has already been archived, but it cannot say that this is the same case and will await the investigation’s development. The athlete continues to carry out his professional activities normally. Train and travel with the delegation this Tuesday, to Belo Horizonte“, says the official statement from the Rio club.
STJD issues official note on case filing
“The Superior Court of Sports Justice received a communication from the CONMEBOL Ethics and Compliance Board, forwarded by the Brazilian Football Integrity Unit on 08/02/2024, regarding the match that took place on 11/01/2023 (nine months earlier) between Flamengo RJ and Santos SP, with reports of atypical behavior resulting from the yellow card of athlete Bruno Henrique Pinto.
Immediately, the Sports Prosecutor’s Office officiated the company SPORTRADAR, an external partner hired by FIFA to monitor the championship subject of suspected manipulation, including carrying out intelligence analysis. In response, SPORTRADAR presented a report with the conclusion that it did not identify any irregularities at the time of departure.
In a sporting analysis of the play, the Prosecutor’s Office found that the facts observed are in line with the reasonable reality of football practice, considering, notably, the athlete’s action in the event marked as a foul, the intensity of the play, the player’s reaction after the marking of the infraction and the minute of the match in which the ball dispute occurred. It was understood that, from a sporting perspective, the facts are compatible with the usual parameters.
The Prosecutor’s Office considered that the alert did not indicate any indication of the athlete’s economic benefit, since any profits from betting reported in the alert would be negligible, when compared to the player’s monthly salary. For these reasons, given the lack of concrete elements, it was decided to archive the pieces of information within the scope of the Sports Justice at that time, without prejudice to subsequent disciplinary proceedings if the persecuting authorities gather a body of evidence with conclusive evidence, based on the powers of investigation granted to it.”
Betting CPI wants to hear Bruno Henrique
Senator Eduardo Girão (Novo), vice-president of the CPI das Apostas in the Federal Senate, filed a request to summon Bruno Henrique to testify at the commission. Previously, the parliamentarian had also asked for the testimony of Luiz Henrique, from Botafogo, on suspicion of involvement in a “criminal organization”.
The application mentions: “I suspect of having made cards in the confrontation between Flamengo and Santos, on November 1, 2023, for the Brasileirão, for betting beneficiaries. (…) Consider that the testimony of Mr. Bruno Henrique Pinto, will allow the elucidation of various aspects related to the object of investigation by this Commission”, says an excerpt from the request.
