This Tuesday (05), the Public Ministry and the Federal Police launched an operation focused on attacker Bruno Henrique, from Flamengo.
The player is suspected of manipulating games to profit from sports betting. The accusation raises alarms about sporting integrity and the relationship between athletes and betting.
Operation SPOT-FIXING involves searches and seizures
According to what was found by CNN, there is evidence that indicates that Bruno Henrique “acted deliberately” during the match against Santos, held on November 1, 2023.
In other words, the athlete would have tried to be punished by the referee, receiving a card with the intention of benefiting family members who were already aware of this strategy.
In that game, Flamengo was defeated, losing 2-1 in the 31st round of the Brazilian Championship, facing Santos at the Mané Garrincha Stadium, in Brasília.
The operation involves six Gaeco-MPDFT prosecutors and more than 50 federal police officers, with 12 search warrants in cities such as Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte and Ribeirão das Neves, all linked to Bruno Henrique.
In addition to the player, other targets of the investigation are members of his family and acquaintances, such as Wander Nunes Pinto Junior, the athlete’s brother, and other people linked to football.
Thus, court orders allow searches of the homes of those being investigated, including Bruno Henrique’s house in Barra da Tijuca.
The headquarters of companies where the athlete is a partner, such as DR3 – CONSULTORIA ESPORTIVA LTDA and BH27 OFICIAL LTDA, were also targets of the operation.
Suspicious move by Bruno Henrique during the game
During the match against Santos, Bruno Henrique had a questionable performance, receiving a yellow card for a foul and soon after a red card for insulting the referee. But the athlete’s behavior did not go unnoticed.
According to reports, his brother and other family members created accounts on betting platforms the day before the game. The bets made were precisely on the punishment that the attacker received.
Other investigated accounts also showed this pattern of targeted betting, with a history of betting linked to Bruno Henrique’s punishment. The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) issued a statement warning about an abnormal volume of bets focused on the possibility of the player receiving a card.
The athlete’s history reveals that, in the last two years, his probability of punishment was only 20%. However, in some betting houses, this frequency rose to an alarming 90%.
Consequences for those involved
The operation, called SPOT-FIXING, is characterized by the manipulation of specific events in a game, not necessarily relevant to the final result, but which have a market in betting.
Bruno Henrique and the other suspects could face serious charges and punishments arising from the General Sports Law, including fraud and active and passive corruption.
Authorities may consider charges of money laundering and formation of a criminal organization. The 7th Criminal Court of Brasília authorized the warrants, which led to significant seizures.
Agents seized cell phones and computers from those being investigated. The operation has the support of GAECOs from the Public Ministries of Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais.
Official note from Flamengo about Bruno Henrique
A few hours after the operation, Flamengo released an official note about the case, citing that it trusts the athlete and that he follows the disposition of coach Filipe Luís. According to the Rio club, the attacker is listed for the next game.
“The Clube de Regatas do Flamengo became aware, on this date, of the existence of an investigation, still ongoing, regarding the possible practice of match-fixing and sports betting.
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.
