Operation targets suspects of defrauding Serie B games – 02/14/2023 – Sport

The Public Ministry of Goiás carried out an operation this Tuesday (14) against a group suspected of defrauding the results of Serie B games of the Brazilian Championship to earn money with high-value sports betting. According to the investigation, professional players would have participated in the scheme, with an estimated turnover of more than R$600,000.

The Maximum Penalty Operation, as it was named, is carried out in six cities — Goiânia, São João del-Rei (MG), Cuiabá (MT), São Paulo (SP), São Bernardo do Campo (SP) and Porciúncula (RJ). The names of the suspects were not released. The Public Prosecutor’s Office had not reported until Tuesday afternoon whether anyone had been arrested or how many warrants had been completed.

There are nine search and seizure warrants and one arrest warrant, issued by the 2nd State Court of Actions Relating to Offenses Committed by Criminal Organization and Laundering or Concealment of Assets, Rights and Values.

According to the investigation, the frauds occurred, for example, with the negotiation for players to commit a penalty in the first half of the games. The athletes involved received part of the earnings, in case of success. Each of them would have obtained approximately R$ 150,000 per bet.

According to researchers, punters made matched bets on penalties in three games: Vila Nova x Sport, Tombense x Criciúma and Sampaio Correia x Londrina. The three matches under consideration took place in the last round of Série B, on November 6th.

A Sheet found out from investigators that, among the targets of search and seizure warrants, there are two athletes. One of them would have borrowed his own account to transfer values ​​to other players. The other would have received an advance from the criminals, but would not have fulfilled his part.

Questioned, the Prosecution did not inform the name of their defense.

In a press release, Vila Nova Futebol Clube informed that it assists, as a whistleblower, the Public Prosecutor’s Office and that it awaits the body’s manifestation with more information. In the text, Tigre’s board stated its “collaborative role and commitment to ethical, moral and fair values ​​that are principles of the club and the sport”.

Among the investigated games, in the first half of the match between Sampaio Corrêa and Londrina, there was a penalty for Londrina, which was scored using VAR. The goalkeeper saved.

In the game between Criciúma and Tombense there was also a penalty in the first half, in favor of Criciúma. The goalkeeper also caught.

Suspects may be denounced for the crimes of criminal association, concealing or disguising the origin of assets and giving or promising a patrimonial advantage, or not, with the aim of altering or falsifying the result of a sports competition.

The operation was carried out by Gaeco (Special Action Group to Combat Organized Crime), by the Institutional Security and Intelligence Coordination and by the Special Action Group in Major Football Events of the Public Ministry of Goiás.

Sought, the CBF did not comment on the investigation by the Public Ministry.