The Sports Betting CPI approved, this Tuesday (12), requests to hear football players Luiz Henrique, from Botafogo, and Bruno Henrique, from Flamengo. The hearings will still be scheduled.
A request to summon Luiz Henrique was presented by the president of the CPI, senator Jorge Kajuru (PSB-GO). Upon being summoned, the player will be required to give a statement. An invitation request was also approved, presented by senator Eduardo Girão (Novo-CE).
Luiz Henrique was cited as the beneficiary of two transfers, totaling R$40,000, made at the beginning of 2023, shortly after the player received yellow cards when playing for Betis, in Spain. The transactions came from relatives of Lucas Paquetá, another Brazilian player suspected of participating in betting manipulation.
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Paquetá is being investigated in England for alleged involvement in an illegal manipulation scheme. Luiz Henrique does not respond to any lawsuit.
Flamengo star
Bruno Henrique, from Flamengo, was invited to give a statement to the CPI, based on requests from Kajuru and Grião.
Last week, he was the target of a Federal Police (PF) operation investigating whether the Flamengo athlete had acted deliberately to receive punishment in a match, with the aim of benefiting family members in sports betting.
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Other summons
The CPI also decided to summon businessman Willian Rogatto, arrested last Friday (8), in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. In a previous statement to the CPI, the businessman even stated that he was responsible for the relegation of 42 teams, which earned him the nickname “King of Relegation” and a turnover of R$300 million.
Referee Jean Pierre Gonçalves Lima was also summoned. As explained by the author of the request, senator Carlos Portinho (PL-RJ), he was dismissed for 15 months by the arbitration committee of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) after a controversial move in a Brazilian Championship match between Athletico-PR and Palmeiras, in 2023.
Breach of confidentiality
Another request approved by the CPI this Tuesday calls for the breaking of Bruno Tolentino’s banking, telephone and telematic confidentiality. He, who is Lucas Paquetá’s uncle, appeared before the Senate in October, but remained silent, supported by habeas corpus.
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The request was presented by Kajuru in order to investigate the transactions for striker Luiz Henrique.
Invitations
The board also approved a series of invitations. The following people may appear as witnesses:
- José Ferreira Neto, “Craque Neto”, former football player and sports presenter and commentator on Bandeirantes Television Group;
- Reginaldo Gomes, president of Sociedade Esportiva Belford Roxo;
- Marcos Guilherme Falcão Rodrigues, president of Duquecaxiense Futebol Clube;
- Alexandre da Silva Crisóstemo, president of the São José Football Club,
- Bruno Lopez de Moura, businessman.
(With Agência Senado)
