The Public Prosecution Service of Paraná (MP-PR) is investigating businessman Rodrigo Reis and his partner, Igor Freitas-son of former boxer Aceino “Popó” Freitas-on suspicion of attempted manipulation in a match of Serie C of the Brazilian Championship. The pair would have offered $ 15,000 to at least one Londrina player to receive yellow card until 27 minutes of the duel against Maringá, held in April. The complaint is determined in the scope of Operation Derby, which served search and seizure warrants on Friday (12/09).
According to the investigation, Igor Freitas started the contact, approaching athletes from Londrina on Instagram with the presentation that he was an entrepreneur and had access to large companies in the market. Only one of the players answered, and Igor asked his phone so that Rodrigo Reis could proceed with the conversation. In the changed audios, Rodrigo initially dealt with sports marketing issues, but then sent a unique viewing message offering the amount in exchange for an early yellow card. The athlete immediately rejected the proposal and reported the case to the club.
Londrina, in turn, notified the CBF, the Paraná Football Federation and the prosecutor himself. At a press conference, the club’s soccer executive, Lucas Magalhães, said three players reported the alliance attempt and that none of them took a card in the match – although the game had ten yellows, four for Tubarão athletes, three of them before 27 minutes.
Search and Seizure Warrants in Santa Catarina and Bahia
The search and seizure warrants were fulfilled in Itapema (Santa Catarina) and Salvador (Bahia), with the support of the state security forces. In all, there were four home search warrants and two personal.
According to MP-PR, Rodrigo Reis and Igor Freitas may be framed in article 199 of the General Sport Law, which provides for two to six years in prison, as well as a fine, for those who offer or promise advantages in order to change or false the result of sports competitions.
So far, the defenses of Rodrigo and Igor have not spoken.
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