Bruno Lopez de Moura, futsal player and businessman, confirmed last Tuesday (26) to the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry (CPI) on the Manipulation of Games and Sports Betting his participation in a betting manipulation scheme. However, Moura denied to senators that he is responsible for heading the criminal organization.
Furthermore, he refuted any direct link with players Lucas Paquetá and Luiz Henrique. Both athletes are being investigated for possible combined bids to benefit bettors.
According to Moura, he would have received information from third parties to place bets involving yellow cards given to players at the beginning of 2023. In his testimony, he highlighted that such bets were personal initiatives. “In the case of Luiz Henrique and Paquetá, I did a little thing on my personal account to earn a little money,” he stated.
Bets CPI investigates combined bids
Moura detailed that the bet in question was “married”, a common practice in the betting market to increase profits with combinations of results. Documents indicate that Luiz Henrique would have received two transfers totaling R$40,000 after being warned with cards while playing for Betis, in Spain.
The involvement of the player, currently at Botafogo, caught the attention of the Spanish authorities. The investigation began with data provided by the Public Ministry of Goiás (MP-GO) last year. Moura, however, denies any direct contact with the athlete.
“The transactions for Luiz Henrique came from relatives of Lucas Paquetá, but I don’t know either of them personally,” he stated. Furthermore, Bruno Tolentino, Paquetá’s uncle and also being investigated, preferred to remain silent during his summons to the CPI.
Head of the scheme
Bruno Lopez de Moura declared himself a “scapegoat” in the case investigated by Operation Maximum Penalty, conducted by MP-GO. In his testimony, he stated that the most influential names were leading the scheme, citing businessman Thiago Chambó as the main orchestrator.
“The one who orchestrated everything and took care of everything was Thiago Chambó”, revealed Moura, although he initially resisted naming him, citing risks to his safety. According to him, Chambó coordinated operational details, while he was responsible for co-opting players.
According to the MP, the criminal group offered amounts between R$50,000 and R$400,000 for players to commit specific moves, such as fouls or cards, favoring bets on specialized websites.
Moura stated that he even intermediated payments between Chambó and the players. He also said that profits in some operations exceeded R$700,000, although he also faced losses. “At the first opportunity, it went wrong, and I ended up with a debt of R$100,000. That’s how I found other players”, he explained.
Despite his statements, Moura insists that he did not occupy a leadership position. He reported to the rapporteur of the Bets CPI, senator Romário (PL-RJ), that his work was limited to attracting players. “I arranged the names, gave them to him and he did everything else,” he said.
Next steps for the Bets CPI
The CPI, chaired by senator Jorge Kajuru (PSB-GO), has already received statements and statements from the person under investigation, who was arrested preventively, but is now free under precautionary measures.
Players like Lucas Paquetá and Luiz Henrique are on the call-up list and are expected to testify in the coming weeks. The objective is to clarify the levels of involvement and the consequences of the scheme that exposed a network of manipulation in the sports betting market.
The case remains under analysis by the CPI and the Public Ministry, with new developments expected soon.
Bets CPI listens to Fernandin OIG
At the Bets CPI, senators are investigating possible money laundering and illegal practices in online betting.
The summoning of Fernando Oliveira Lima, the Fernandin OIG, by the Bets Parliamentary Inquiry Commission (CPI) responded to a request from the rapporteur, senator Soraya Thronicke (Podemos-MS).
The businessman was called to clarify his relationship with the online casino game Fortune Tiger, popularly known as “Jogo do Tigrinho”, and with possible illicit operations associated with his company.
The company OIG, owned by Fernando, is suspected of facilitating activities related to online betting, which may include money laundering practices. In his defense, the businessman stated that the company is regularized in Brazil, according to rules recently established by the Ministry of Treasury.
During testimony, Fernandin OIG denied owning the Fortune Tiger game. He clarified that the game is owned by a foreign company and is available on its platform through a contracted game aggregator.
“I am not Tigrinho’s owner, I want to make it very clear to you”, he declared. According to the businessman, the version of the game offered on his website is the “original”, different from the pirated versions that circulate on the internet.
Fernandin OIG argued that pirated games are rigged to favor third parties and can harm users. He highlighted that his platform seeks to offer a reliable experience by only making legitimate versions available.
