The owner of SAF Botafogo, American businessman John Texor, will have to pay a $ 1 million fine for the STJD (Superior Court of Sports Justice) to terminate a lawsuit filed against him for offenses and lack of proof of a manipulation scheme, which he denounced in matches of the first division of Brazilian football.
The sanction results from an agreement between the defense of the controversial US entrepreneur and the Sports Justice Attorney, who accused him of several violations of the Sports Code, said the STJD in a note released on Thursday (27).
Magnata’s lawyers offered to pay $ 1 million before the court tried the case at first instance.
An eventual conviction could have brought to the owner of the Rio team, champion of the Copa Libertadores and the 2024 Brazilian, a suspension of up to two years, as well as financial sanctions.
The Attorney’s Office accepted the proposal and gave ten days to pay the fine, “the largest in the history of the Brazilian football court,” adds the newsletter.
The Sports Justice Attorney’s Office filed a lawsuit against the owner of the Eagle Football conglomerate, who also controls the Frenchman Lyon, after he reported, in March 2024, alleged manipulations in Brazilian Championship matches, including 2023.
That season, Botafogo suffered an unusual setback, losing the isolated leadership of the tournament and the opportunity to win their first championship since 1995.
“The allegations [de Textor] They were made based on an artificial intelligence company and without substantial evidence, “the STJD said.
With his complaints about alleged manipulations, Textor also “offended the honor” of Palmeiras players (who ended up with champion in 2023), São Paulo, Fortaleza, referee Bráulio da Silva Machado and the president of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), Ednaldo Rodrigues.
The complaints of the American businessman came months after a scandalous scheme of manipulation of results and bets was discovered in Brazil.
Due to this case, which even affected first division games, 29 players were reported to sports court. Some were suspended for up to two years.
