Brazilian Football Owner to Present Evidence of Match Manipulation in Senate Inquiry

Bruno Macedo, known as Textor, the owner of Botafogo SAF, claimed he will present evidence of manipulation in Brazilian football to senators during a Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry (CPI). In a secret session, Textor presented reports that allegedly contain evidence of improper and fraudulent interference in the results of matches from the 2022 and 2023 editions of the Brazilian Championship, in which Palmeiras was the champion.

Textor stated that match-fixing is a reality in football, not just in Brazil but also in other countries like Belgium and France. He alleged that there is a 'black box' in the way the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) selects referees, and that his company's digital video analysis has detected irregularities that have benefited Palmeiras, to the detriment of Botafogo. "The reports produced by Good Game! do not indicate why the manipulations occurred, only highlighting that they took place during the matches based on the identification of 'abnormal movements' by players and referees," Textor said.

Why this matters: The allegations of match-fixing and manipulation in Brazilian football have far-reaching implications for the integrity of the sport and the trust of fans. The Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry's investigation into these claims could lead to significant changes in the oversight and regulation of football in Brazil.

Textor also criticized the power of the CBF and called for it to be reduced, stating that it is time to 'clean up' Brazilian football. He suggested to the senators to reduce the power of the CBF and privatize the operation of the league (Brazilian Championship). The commission will further discuss Textor's report in an upcoming session.

The CPI was established to investigate allegations and suspicions of match-fixing in Brazilian football, involving players, managers, and betting companies. Next Friday, the Superior Sports Justice Court is expected to begin a trial of Textor for his statements against the refereeing and the CBF. Both Palmeiras and São Paulo have expressed their intention to sue Textor for his previous statements accusing players of underperforming in a match that resulted in a 5-0 victory for Palmeiras.

Key Takeaways

• Textor claims to have evidence of match-fixing in Brazilian football, including Palmeiras' title.
• Textor alleges a 'black box' in CBF's referee selection and irregularities benefiting Palmeiras.
• CPI investigating match-fixing allegations in Brazilian football, involving players, managers, and betting.
• Textor criticizes CBF's power and calls for league privatization to 'clean up' Brazilian football.
• Palmeiras and São Paulo plan to sue Textor for his previous statements accusing players.