Palmeiras President Leila pereira told the parliamentary inquiry committee (CPI), that John Textor would be barred if he didn’t provide evidence of match fixing in Brazil.
Textor, the owner of Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas, accused Palmeiras’ involvement in a manipulated game. This led to the creation of a CPI to combat match-fixing.
Textor claimed to have evidence that Sao Paulo’s players had been bribed during a Palmeiras 5-0 loss. Botafogo’s owner said that he also had an audio recording of the referee being bribed.
Textor reiterated these allegations in a CPI article from April. CPI President Senator Jorge Kajuru called on Pereira to attend the hearing.
Pereira vigorously refuted Textor’s claims, saying he would be barred from Brazilian Football if he didn’t present enough evidence.
Pereira stated, “I have not seen any evidence objectively.”
I have no doubt that John Textor will be barred from Brazilian Football because of his irresponsible and criminal accusations. He affects more than just Palmeiras. It affects all the credibility that Brazilian Football has.
Claims of match fixing by textor
Textor said that the technology he hired to assess human behavior found that five Sao Paulo football players behaved abnormally. Textor claimed that one player had almost three times the rate of normal abnormalities.
Textor is unsure if Palmeiras’ players are involved, but he believes that the match was fixed.
He also mentioned two games that involved Palmeiras. In one match, a Vasco Da Gama goal was incorrectly disallowed because a VAR camera had been placed in the wrong place. Palmeiras played Textor’s Botafogo. The latter was sent off, but Palmeiras won 4-3 after coming from behind. Palmeiras went on to win league.
Pereira criticized Textor’s allegations, saying that they had a negative effect on Brazilian football. Pereira said that if she had known of Palmeiras’ wrongdoings, she would also have informed Brazilian Football Confederation.
Pereira said: “I cannot let an outsider come to Brazil, and because he has lost a championship… disqualify Palmeiras very important title.”
My observations relate to John Textor, and not Botafogo. “His attitudes do a lot of harm to Brazilian soccer.”
Kajuru demands Textor evidence
Kajuru asked the Brasileiro Series A clubs to convene a CBF meeting to set a date by which Textor must support his allegations.
Pereira, on the other hand, called for stronger punishments to be applied to those who manipulate matches as a means of deterrence.
Pereira added, “We will not get anywhere without punishment.” “Impunity breeds the next crime.”
There’s little point to a warning or a letter. You will be barred from playing football if you take part in schemes which harm credibility, the results, and the hard work done by other clubs.
Kajuru opens to Textor Expulsion
Wilson Luiz Seneme (CBF President of Arbitration Commission) was invited to give a speech at a CPI meeting on Thursday, 6 June.
Kajuru reiterated his belief that the American should be barred from entering the country, if the claims of Textor were not true.
Seneme stated that he had no experience in identifying any actions which could be used to manipulate the results.
“Arbitration errors occur. “But turning a mistake in arbitration into a claim for result manipulation is irresponsible, to my mind.”
Kajuru said: “If it turns out that he can prove nothing at all, then he should be expelled from Brazil and banned from football for the chaos he creates.”
In Thursday’s CPI, the CPI also focused on match fixing and sponsorship in football.
Since Bill 3,626/2023 was passed, regulating sports betting, a number of club sponsorships have taken place. Vasco da Gama, the club’s biggest sponsor in history, announced their sponsorship deal with Betfair. Betfair became the kit sponsor for both men and women teams.
Betano announced recently that it would be sponsoring Brazil’s premier league. The operator will also be sponsoring the Copa America Tournament.
Corinthians also penned a BRL370m (PS59.8m/EUR69.4m/$75.9m) deal for VaideBet to become its front-of-shirt sponsor. The biggest sponsorship deal in Brazilian football is under threat, according to reports. This could be due to an intermediary in the negotiation.
Former Fortaleza Esporte Clube president Senator Eduardo Girao says that such agreements threaten Brazilian football’s reputation.
Girao stated, “It is clear to me that I have a conflict of interests.” As club president, I am against this.
I think that we’re killing football. “People don’t even know whether they are watching a live game or one that has been pre-arranged.”
