The scandal of match manipulation in a betting scheme is no longer just in Brazil. Midfielder Max Alves, 21, was mentioned in conversations with gamblers obtained by investigations by the Public Ministry of Goiás (MP-GO), which triggered Operation Maximum Penalty 2, and his club in the United States, Colorado Rapids, spoke on social media, without naming names, and removed the player from team activities.
— Colorado Rapids (@ColoradoRapids) May 11, 2023
“We are aware of reports about a Colorado Rapids player in connection with illegal sports gambling. We take matters of this nature seriously and always seek to protect the integrity of the game. The player was removed from all team activities while MLS (Major League Soccer) is conducting an investigation into the matter,” the Colorado team said in a statement posted on its official Twitter account.
Contrary to what happened to 16 people – including seven players – who had the complaint made by the Public Ministry of Goiás (MP-GO) accepted by the Justice last Tuesday, Max Alves and 11 other athletes are not necessarily investigated, denounced or suspects. These are just quotes from bettors revealed in “prints” investigated by MP-GO.
In the conversations obtained by the investigation, and initially disclosed by the newspaper O Globo, the bettors talk about “right names”, payments, speculate on the names of other players and ask for secrecy. Two of those investigated are Bruno Lopez de Moura, named as the head of the scheme by the MP-GO who appears as “BL”, and Thiago Chambó, one of the main financiers of the group who is identified as TH CH.
Other names that appear on this list are: Maurício (Internacional), Alef Manga (Coritiba), Leo Realpe (Red Bull Bragantino), Diego Porfírio (today at Guarani), Bryan García (Athletico-PR), Rafael Vaz (São Bernardo), Thonny Anderson (currently at Ferroviária), Jesus Trindade (Coritiba), Auremir (CRB), Sidcley (CSKA Sofia-BUL), Zeca (currently at Vitória) and Matheus Vargas (currently at Sport).
Source: Gazetaesportiva
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