MLS player suspended as Brazilian officials charge 16 in alleged match-fixing | match fixing

The Colorado Rapids have suspended winger Max Alves in connection with alleged illegal sports betting, ESPN reported on Wednesday citing a source with knowledge of the situation.

The Major League Soccer club issued a statement announcing that a player had been suspended, but did not identify him: “We are aware of reports of a colorado rapids player in connection with illegal sports betting. We take matters of this nature seriously and seek at all times to protect the integrity of the game,” the statement read.

“The player has been removed from all team activities while MLS is conducting an investigation into the matter.”

MLS also issued a similarly worded statement, adding that a current and former player had been involved in illegal gambling.

Earlier on Wednesday, Brazilian state prosecutors charged 16 people, including seven professional soccer players, with alleged match-fixing and illegal betting in what threatens to be one of the biggest scandals since Brazil Sports betting legalized in 2018.

Brazil’s Justice Minister Flavio Dino ordered federal police to launch an investigation into the scheme after the charging documents were released. Prosecutors from the Goiás Public Ministry said that the alleged crimes occurred in 13 matches of Series A and B of the Brazilian Championship, including eight played in 2022.

According to charging documents, a criminal gang paid players to commit violations and would then bet on those results to earn payouts when the violations occurred.

The group would offer up to 500,000 reais (US$100,000) as an initial payment to players from clubs including Santos, Juventude, Cuiaba, Cruzeiro, Athletico Paranaense, Internacional and Fluminense, prosecutors alleged.

Santos defender Eduardo Bauermann is accused of receiving at least 50,000 reais ($10,000) for receiving a yellow card in a match against Aval last year, according to the documents.

Gabriel Tota, Paulo Miranda, Igor Carius, Victor Ramos, Fernando Neto and Matheus Gomes are among the other players charged, according to the documents.

The Brazilian Football Federation (CBF) sent a letter to the Presidency of the Republic and the Ministry of Justice, requesting that the federal police get involved in the case, saying that there is no possibility of the current competition being suspended.

“I have been working together with FIFA, as well as with Brazilian clubs and federations, with the aim of combating all kinds of crimes, fraud or illegal actions within football,” CBF president Ednaldo Rodrigues said in a statement. “Those who commit crimes should not be part of Brazilian and world football.”

Sports betting has been legal in Brazil only since 2018 when the country allowed online betting. It has skyrocketed ever since, with gambling ads often prominent during, before, and after soccer matches. Brazil is preparing laws to tax and regulate the sector.

Alves, who is from Brazil, joined Flamengo’s Rapids ahead of the 2022 season and made 31 appearances for the club in all competitions. He has made 12 appearances for the club so far in 2023, including a start in Saturday’s 3-1 win over LA Galaxy.