The Brazilian Ministry of Justice requested the opening of an investigation for sports betting arrangements

An investigation focused on result manipulation in sports competitions has been requested by the Minister of Justice and Public Security, Flávio Dino, for the Federal Police to undertake.

After it was revealed that athletes from clubs in the main divisions of Brazilian soccer were suspected of collaborating with gangs that act through sports betting sites, Flávio Dino, the Minister of Justice and Public Security, took action on Wednesday, May 10. He instructed the Federal Police to investigate the manipulation of results in sports competitions, which had interstate and international repercussions.

The minister stated that he was acting upon evidence of result manipulation and ordered the opening of an inquiry for legally applicable investigations. As a result, some football clubs decided to drop the athletes who were under investigation.

In response to recent information on match-fixing, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) sent a letter to the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, ensuring that it adopted measures to censor and punish the practice of illegal acts. However, the CBF has no police power and therefore considers it essential to work together with public authorities to prevent and punish such infractions.

The CBF suggests that the minister designate a working group or authority to centralize and control investigations in compliance with the Federal Constitution, the Criminal Procedure Code, and other laws governing the matter for the public interest.

Operation Maximum II

Informally through the press, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) informed the minister that various units of the federation’s Civil Police and Public Ministry have initiated investigations to probe the possible practice of match-fixing in Brazilian soccer. One example is the recurring Operation Maximum II or “Operation of Maximum Penalty” highlighted in the media.

The Confederation, responsible for organizing national championships and managing Brazilian soccer, asserts that it has a direct interest in investigating and punishing those involved in this type of crime. The CBF states in an official letter sent to the Ministry of Justice and Public Security that “the Federal Police investigate crimes whose practice has interstate or international repercussions and requires uniform repression, even though some of the crimes possibly committed as a consequence of match-fixing fall under state jurisdiction,” as stipulated in the Federal Constitution.

The CBF offers its assistance to facilitate the investigations, committing to provide all relevant documents and information in the public interest for the investigations to be completed successfully.