Investigator Says Brazil's Match-Fixing Scandal Has International Reach

The head investigator in Brazil's massive match-fixing scandal claims to have found potential evidence of wrongdoing by players abroad and expressed the hope that other governments will utilize his team's findings to launch their own investigations.

In talks with The Associated Press from Saturday to Monday, Goias state District Attorney Fernando Cesconetto indicated that the case of Colorado Rapids midfielder Max Alves, who was purportedly included in the investigation, may be tried in the United States.

"There are some conversations regarding contacts of bettors from here with athletes abroad. And in its due moment that will be shared (with foreign authorities)," Cesconetto told."

(Alves') own club preemptively suspended the athlete after news reports from here. Sharing our investigation so it can be investigated there is the natural path."

Brazilian Alves was mentioned in the investigation, according to O Globo's story from the previous week.

A player suspended in connection with the case plays for the Rapids of Major League Soccer, but they did not name him in their statement. Alves has not made any public remarks.

The probe, which first concentrated on three games in November, has since expanded to include 11 games, some of which were in lower divisions.

According to the district attorney, the matches took place throughout the first three months of this year and the second half of 2022.

According to the investigators, players were promised between $10,000 and $20,000 to carry out certain tasks, such as issuing yellow cards and awarding penalty kicks. On betting websites, allegedly, thieves would make money.

Local media reported that suspected criminals mentioned having contacts in Greece and Lithuania, which Cesconetto did not confirm, Sportstar reported.

"There's still a lot of material to be looked into," he said. "We are more focused on what happened here in Brazil."

The federal police of Brazil may also participate in some collaboration with international authorities. A nationwide inquiry into match-fixing will be started, according to Justice Minister Flavio Dino's statement on Wednesday.

This week, the nation's congress is also anticipated to launch its own investigation.

In a statement, the Brazilian football federation (CBF) stated that it has requested an investigation from the government in order to "centralize all the information about the cases under investigation."

Suspects were shown in a number of films played by TV Globo on Sunday cheering when players who were allegedly part of the plot were given yellow cards or penalties during Serie A, Serie B, or state championship games.

The case against Bauermann and other participants was made available to the AP. According to information shared with Goias investigators, Bauermann exchanged texts offering to fix games and stated in November that he could enlist the assistance of two of his teammates.

Attorneys for Bauermann denied the accusations against their client.

Monday also saw the preemptive suspension of eight players who had been prosecuted by Cesconetto last week recommended by the sports court's prosecutors in Brazil.

The 37-year-old right back Nino Paraiba, who was mentioned in media reports but has not been accused, had his contract with top-flight team America terminated. Similar decisions were taken by other Brazilian clubs last week.

"It is a minority of matches, a minority of athletes who are willing to do this," the Goias state district attorney said. "These are people who tried to fool the betting companies as they searched for an easy profit. And they did it in organized and repeatable fashion."