Brazil’s football integrity is in jeopardy with new match-fixing allegations surfacing just months before the country launches its legal sports betting market.
American businessman John Textor, owner of Botafogo, has accused São Paulo players of accepting bribes in a match against Palmeiras, claiming he has evidence of the misconduct.
These accusations have led to a heated response from both political figures and football officials.
Senator Jorge Kajuru has demanded that federal police summon Textor, threatening legal action if his evidence is insufficient.
The controversy has prompted the establishment of a parliamentary inquiry commission (CPI) to investigate the claims, intensifying the scrutiny on Brazil’s football integrity.
Textor’s allegations were dismissed by the Superior Court of Sports Justice (STJD) in July, but he continues to assert that the response was biased.
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In light of these events, concerns are growing about the impact on Brazil’s upcoming legal sports betting market, set to launch on 1 January 2025.
The International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) reported that Brazil ranked third for suspicious sports betting alerts in 2023, all related to football.
This has raised alarms among regulators and stakeholders about the potential harm to the market.
Rafael Marchetti Marcondes, chief legal officer at Rei do Pitaco, emphasizes the need for immediate action to address sports integrity concerns.
“The manipulation of results, if not fought efficiently, tends to generate a discrediting of Brazilian sport,” Marcondes told iGB.
Economic instability and low salaries among players are seen as key factors making them susceptible to match-fixing approaches.
Sportradar’s integrity partnership manager for Brazil, Felippe Marchetti, highlights the importance of education in preventing match-fixing.
“Educating players and match officials is vital,” he explains. Sportradar has been actively involved in monitoring Brazil’s top football divisions, providing bet monitoring services to detect suspicious activities.
Despite these efforts, the need for stronger regulatory measures is evident.
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The CPI aims to work closely with the Executive’s regulation to eliminate match-fixing.
Jorge Kajuru believes that punitive measures alone are not enough and that a comprehensive approach involving various stakeholders is necessary.
Brazil’s football betting market holds significant potential, with an IBIA study estimating sports betting turnover could reach $34bn by 2028.
However, the ongoing match-fixing controversy threatens to undermine this potential.
The first half of 2024 saw a 60% reduction in match-fixing cases compared to the same period last year, indicating some progress.
Nevertheless, continuous efforts and collaboration are required to ensure the integrity of Brazilian football.
The government’s proactive stance, combined with technological solutions like Sportradar’s AI-driven monitoring, offers hope for addressing the issue.
