In the WhatsApp impressions published by the MP-GO (Goiás State Public Prosecutor’s Office) at “Operation Maximum Penalty 2”to which the ESPN had access to it, some bettors scoff at an investigation into an attempt to manipulate Copa São Paulo results.
The case was broadcast exclusively on Bandeirantes TV on January 11, 2023 and, in addition to a photo from the report, Bruno Lopez de Moura, an associate of BC Sports Management whose mobile phone was seized during the operation, sends a message while laughing.
Then he is answered by a contact identified as TCY, who is also having fun and « vibrating » that the complaint is about a matter that has nothing to do with them.
Bruno responds, confirming his colleague’s words and qualifying the group surveyed as « beginners ».
See below which games are under investigation in Serie A
Which players are under investigation?
-
Eduardo Bauermann (Santos)
-
Gabriel Tota (Ypiranga-RS)
-
Viktor Ramos (Chapecoense)
-
Igor Carius (Sports)
-
Paulo Miranda (Nautical)
-
Fernando Neto (Sao Bernardo)
-
Matheus Gomes (Sergipe)
What numbers are mentioned in the process?
-
Vitor Mendes (Fluminense)
-
Richard (Cruise)
-
Nino Paraíba (America-MG)
-
Dada Belmonte (America-MG)
-
Kevin Lomonaco (Red Bull Bragantino)
-
Moraes Jr (Youth)
-
Nikolas Farias (Novo Hamburgo)
-
Pedroso pitcher (Inter de Santa Maria)
-
Nathan (Gremio)
-
Pedrinho (Athletico PR)
-
Bryan Garcia (Athletico PR)
Players and members of the organization
-
Bruno Lopez de Moura
-
Icaro Fernando Calixto dos Santos
-
Luis Felipe Rodrigues de Castro
-
Victor Yamasaki Fernandes
-
Zildo Peixoto Neto
-
Thiago Chambo Andrade
-
Romario Hugo dos Santos
-
Guillaume de Oliveira Souza
-
Pedro Gama dos Santos Jr.
what is the » Maximum Operation Penalties » investigation
The investigation of Maximum Operation Penalties points out that criminal groups have convinced players, with offers of up to R$100,000, to place specific bids in matches and profit bettors on industry websites.
A co-opted player, for example, would have the « role » of scoring a penalty, receiving a card or contributing to building the result of the match – generally a defeat for his team.
The first complaints heard by the operation came at the end of 2022, when midfielder Romário, while a player from Vila Nova (GO), accepted R$150,000 to impose a penalty against Sport, in a valid match for the series B do Brasileiro.
At the time, the athlete immediately pocketed R$10,000 and only earned the rest if the plan worked. Romário, however, wasn’t even included in the match, which spoiled the idea.
The story reached Hugo Jorge Bravo, president of the Goiás team and also a military policeman, who searched for evidence and handed it over to the State Public Ministry. From then on, the « Maximum Sentence » operation was created to investigate the evidence and suspicions in this regard.
In the first complaint, there were suspicions of manipulation in 3 Serie B matches, but the latest events have led investigators to believe that the problem was national and had occurred in the state championships and also in the first division Brazilian.
In addition to Romário, September other players have been denounced by the Public Ministry for having participated in the matchmaking system: Joseph (Tombense), Mateusinho (former Sampaio Corrêa, today in Cuiabá), Gabriel Domingos (Vila Nova), Allan Godói (Sampaio Corrêa), André Queixo (former Sampaio Corrêa, principal at Ituano), Ygor Catatau (former Sampaio Corrêa, principal at Sepahan, Iran) and Paulo Sérgio (former Sampaio Corrêa, principal at Operário-PR).
Have (Site notre bureau spécialisé)ers been arrested?
No imprisoned players, only people engaged in processing claims. There were 3 arrest warrants in São Paulo, but only for non-athletes.
The stun grenades were seized in an arrest warrant in São Paulo and the firearms at another address, also in São Paulo. There was also a gun act without proper registration.
Athletes or scouts can be charged via fan status and can also be held responsible for the crime of money laundering, if applicable. According to the Fan Statute, the sentence ranges from 2 to 6 years in prison.
What did the players do to manipulate the matches?
Athletes and suspects participated in the investigation for manipulation in the following ways: receiving yellow or red cards, commissioning a penalty, guaranteeing a partial defeat in the 1st half, number of corners, etc .
