Brazil Wants Harsher Punishments for Match Manipulators

Brazil’s Supporter Statue (Law 10,671/03) currently punishes those found guilty of match-fixing with prison between two and six years and a fine. 

The Chamber of Deputies‘s Constitution and Justice Committee (CCJ) has now recently passed bill 515/2023 aimed to alter the Supporter Statute by boosting penalties for sports professionals involved in match-fixing.

The project proposed by deputy Bandeira de Mello prior to representative Orlando Silva drafting the revised variant will amend the country’s General Sports Law. 

Up to 50% Harsher Penalties

The new bill wishes to see the current penalty go up from a third to a half depending on the person’s status as a referee, player, coach, bettor, agent, manager, director, or sports club representative

Other amendments referred to the inclusion of a prison sentence ranging between two and six years for individuals soliciting or recruiting athletes, referees, directors, or coaches to manipulate games.

According to Bandeira de Mello, the proposed bill does not intend to criminalize players or referees indiscriminately but rather serve as a reminder of the power of their influence and apply sanctions in case of misconduct.

The bill has already received the green light from the sports committee and is currently awaiting an assessment from the Chamber of Deputies’ plenary.

The Senate will also have to approve it before it can be enacted into law

The Bill, Needed to Maintain Sporting Integrity 

Silva thinks the new bill is critical for maintaining sporting integrity in the country where match-fixing “is an old problem.” 

In the International Betting Integrity Association’s Integrity Report for 2023, Brazil ranked third among the countries that received suspicious sports betting notifications. 

All 11 notifications were triggered by soccer games.

The phenomenon of manipulation in soccer became even clearer when American businessman John Textor’s allegations caused a storm in the industry and triggered a Parliamentary Inquiry Commission (CPI) on sports betting. 

The owner of Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas accused São Paulo players of being involved in match-fixing against Palmeiras while claiming to hold proof of a referee receiving a bribe. 

Palmeiras owner Leila Pereira asked for Textor to be banned in case he could not provide the promised evidence while CPI president and senator Jorge Kajuru asked for his expulsion from Brazil if the accusations that he made will prove to be fake.

Representative Silva considers “more severe sanctions than the current ones” to be a good solution that could help alleviate this problem. 

Also, Felippe Marchetti, Sportradar’s integrity partnership manager, thinks CPI’s launch and technology advent should help curb manipulation figures.

So Far, the News Is Good

In an interview for iGB, Marchetti praised the “good news” recorded “so far,” mentioning the 60% drop in the number of cases of manipulation in sports in H1 compared to last year. 

The integrity partnership manager also expressed hope that their “work and awareness of those involved” would help grow the positive numbers while showing optimism regarding politicians’ desire to “collaborate to protect one of the cultural heritage of the country.”

Marchetti also believes “increased visibility of the topic and deepening investigations” are good ways of warding off manipulators from Brazil. 

Lottopar Follows “Best International Practices” 

The Paraná State Lottery (Lottopar) has also published an ordinance imposing a betting ban on individuals who can influence sports results.

Article 24 of Ordinance No 67/2024 forbids athletes who participate in competitions organized by entities part of the National Sports System, as well as referees, coaches, and members of sporting administrative boards from registering and betting on websites authorized by Lottopar. 

In light of the country getting ready to launch its legal market at the beginning of 2025, Lottopar explained it was closely following “best international practices” introduced by other countries with well-established industries where match-fixing does not represent a critical problem.

Deputy Bandeira de Mello also emphasized that Brazilian society as a whole must show respect for soccer as an essential driver of public policies while also regarding it as a sport and a form of entertainment.

In June, we reported the country was continuing its gambling framework reform as a means of expanding the industry with the approval of Bill 2,234/2022 which will allow land-based gaming and ease up rules on bingo and jogo do bicho.