Former MLS MVP Luciano Acosta is currently under investigation for potential spot fixing after irregular betting patterns emerged regarding his yellow card during a recent match. The gambling company Stake reported an unusually high volume of bets placed on Acosta receiving a booking while he was on the field for Fluminense against Bragantino earlier this month. In response, Stake alerted Sportradar, which subsequently informed the Brazilian soccer authority, the CBF.
Stake operates with a full license in Brazil, following updates to the country's gambling regulations that took effect at the beginning of last year.
Fluminense has acknowledged the investigation, asserting that Acosta has denied any wrongdoing. In a statement, the club said, "Fluminense FC received notification from the CBF about the incident and informs that it is available to cooperate with the competent bodies. The player denied participation in any type of irregularity."
Acosta joined Fluminense last year after transferring from FC Dallas. He earned the league's MVP award in 2023 while playing for FC Cincinnati and stands as the club's all-time leading goal scorer, with 54 goals in 150 appearances across four seasons. Though he is familiar with receiving yellow cards—having amassed 23 bookings in 93 MLS matches—his record with Fluminense shows a similar trend, as he has collected four yellow cards in his first 16 matches.
The controversy intensified during a match earlier this month, when Acosta was shown a yellow card in the 47th minute for pushing Bragantino's Lucas Barbosa. This action triggered a brawl involving multiple players, leading to three yellow cards and two red cards being handed out.
Yellow card betting is particularly vulnerable to manipulation since players can easily be penalized for minor infractions, and these bookings often do not significantly influence the outcome of the game. Soccer remains the sport with the highest number of suspected betting scandals. Despite this, Sportradar reported a decrease in suspicious incidents last year, down from 730 in 2024 to 630 in 2025.
Earlier this year, another Brazilian player named Ênio was indicted for allegedly collecting yellow cards deliberately for betting purposes. Additionally, the case of midfielder Lucas Paqueta raised concerns after it was revealed that family members had placed wagers on him receiving yellow cards while playing for West Ham in the English Premier League. Ultimately, Paqueta was cleared of the allegations.
To combat corruption in sports, Brazil recently signed the Macolin Convention, an international treaty aimed at fostering collaborative efforts against such issues. The UK is considering ratifying the convention and recently examined the potential benefits of its adoption. Madolina Diaconu, who testified before a House of Lords committee, stated, "Without an instrument like the Macolin Convention, if hundreds of unusual micro-bets are placed in Brazil on a minor event like a yellow card in a UK match, it is virtually impossible for UK authorities to track it down, and the criminals ultimately walk free."
