Two players confess that they manipulated Serie A games – 05/14/2023 – Sports

Full-back Moraes and defender Kevin Lomónaco confessed that they manipulated three games in Série A do Brasileiro last year. The videos with the confessions were obtained by UOL.

The left winger and the defender were two of the four players who confessed to the Goiás Public Prosecutor’s Office that they had participated in the manipulation scheme. The crime is punishable by up to six years in prison, but the confession made the MP offer them a non-criminal prosecution agreement. The two were not prosecuted and became witnesses of the investigations.

“I needed the money and ended up agreeing to do it. My wife was mad at me”, said Moraes.

He stated that he received R$ 25,000 to receive yellow cards in two games, against Palmeiras and Goiás, both last year. The side said that the promise was that he would earn even more, but the recruiters did not fulfill the agreement.

The player also mentioned a match against Ceará, in which he was booked. He says he did not accept the proposal for that match, but soon after he saw a deposit of R$ 20,000 in his account – he returned the amount days later.

Moraes told prosecutors that he regretted the fraud. “I knew it was wrong. I was very sorry, but it was a moment that my wife and I really needed,” he said.

Kevin said he accepted a promise to receive R$ 70,000 to receive a yellow card in Red Bull x América-MG. The scammers deposited R$ 30,000 in his account, but failed to pay the rest of the amount.

“He said I was going to make some quick money, that I just had to get a yellow card. I accepted. I was at the camp, the day before the game, I think. He kept insisting, sending messages, saying: ‘Let’s close, brother, it’s money …’ But I did it without any knowledge that it was a crime, something like that. I did it normally, I didn’t ask anyone anything, “said Kevin.

Prosecutors seized the Argentine’s cell phone and discovered the dialogues that proved the frame. In them, Kevin talks to Luís Felipe Rodrigues de Castro, who makes the offer. “I only got yellow because I thought it wasn’t something that would harm the team,” said the 21-year-old defender.

The two players are temporarily away from their clubs. Kevin remains signed from Red Bull. Moraes has a contract with Atlético-GO and was loaned to Aparecidense-GO.

Moraes’ lawyer, Cláudia Mendonça Noventa, said that the video was recorded after the athlete reached an agreement with the MP and that he is sorry. She also stated that he is no longer a defendant and should not be used as a scapegoat, as he has already provided all the clarifications and will await his status at the STJD.

“He was approached by Mr. Victor Yamazaki when he needed it. There were two games that he really accepted, he received a down payment of R$5,000 against Palmeiras and R$20,000 against Goiás, but in terms of the games, if you watch it, you see that he would take the card even if he didn’t accept the money”, said the lawyer.

“Moraes was not part of the WhatsApp groups of athletes who kept commenting that they would take the cards. He was only contacted by Victor Yamazaki and the conversation was with him. He did it wrong, he himself knows he was wrong, today he is cooperating with the Justice, is a collaborator of the process”, explained Claudia.

“In the game against Ceará, at no time did he accept the amount. People wanted him to do it, he says he wasn’t going to do it anymore, that he had regrets and didn’t want the money. He doesn’t give it back because he didn’t take the card, he takes the card, but returns it because he didn’t agree to make the scheme”, added the lawyer.

Kevin Lomónaco’s defense did not respond to the reporter’s attempt to contact him. Luis Felipe Rodrigues de Castro and Victor Yamasaki Fernandes were silent in their testimonies. The report did not locate Luis Felipe’s defense. The lawyer representing Yamazaki was contacted by the number available at the OAB, but could not be reached.