Sao Paulo: No fewer than eight football players have been suspended in Brazil over the manipulation of results in Brazilian football involving sports betting.
Reports from Brazil have revealed that eight footballers have been hit with bans over a sports betting scandal.
As first reported by ge.globo via Folha, the president of the Superior Court of Sports Justice (STJD), Otávio Noronha, has ordered a 30-day preventive suspension of eight footballers investigated in ‘Operation Maximum Penalty’, of the Prosecution Service of Goiás, which is currently investigating the manipulation of results in Brazilian football involving sports betting.
The suspension request was made for the following players: Eduardo Bauermann (Santos), Moraes (Aparecidense, ex-Juventude), Gabriel Tota (Youth), Paulo Miranda (Náutico, ex-Juventude), Igor Cariús (Sport, ex-Cuiabá ), Matheus Gomes (ex-Sergipe), Fernando Neto (São Bernardo, ex-Operário-PR) and Kevin Lomónaco (Bragantino).
Six of these players were denounced by the MP-GO (Prosecution Service of Goiás).
The Justice of Goiás accepted the complaint and turned them into defendants.
Kevin Lomónaco and Moraes have collaborated with the Prosecution Service and were not accused in the common court.
However, both players remain subject to sporting punishments.
Lomónaco and Moraes reportedly received money to receive a yellow card, while the other two other players were paid to commit a penalty.
According to the attorney general of the STJD, Ronaldo Piacente, although there has been no trial, the evidence presented by the Prosecution Service is sufficient to justify the suspension.
What is Operation Maximum Penalty?
According to ge.globo, the 'Maximum Penalty operation' is a new milestone in the fight against match-fixing and betting schemes in Brazilian football.
The operation has been going on for several months and many football players in Brazil have already been investigated and denounced under the watchful eye of the Goiás Public Ministry, which started the work.
The first Maximum Penalty operation began in February 14 this year, by the Special Action Group to Combat Organized Crime (Gaeco), of the Public Ministry of the State of Goiás.
The second phase already kicked off in April and May, with more defendants, and more preventive arrests.
This phase will see the comprehensive investigation of players from the Brazilian Série B division up to the Série A, which involves players from the big teams in Brazilian football.
Meanwhile, Pulse Sports previously reported that Brentford striker Ivan Toney has been suspended from football for 8 months after breaching FA’s betting rules.
The 27-year-old Bees striker pleaded guilty to 232 betting offences.
The FA in a statement confirmed the ruling on Wednesday that Toney will be banned until January 16, 2023 and is also allowed to train in September 2023.
Related content
16:43 - 18.05.2023
TRANSFERS FA to apply to FIFA to make Ivan Toney’s suspension worldwide
The Brentford striker was handed a ban that runs until January 16, 2024.
10:58 - 18.05.2023
FOOTBALL Brentford striker Toney breaks his silence after hefty eight-month betting ban
The 27-year-old has commented on his heavy punishment that will rule him out of action until September 2024.
21:47 - 17.05.2023
Ivan Toney and 11 other footballers who have been BANNED for sports betting
After breaching FA's Betting Rules, the Brentford striker has been suspended for 8 months after pleading guilty to 232 betting offences, but which other players have been banned for betting?
17:15 - 17.05.2023
FA slaps Ivan Toney with 8 months ban
Brentford and England striker Ivan Toney has been banned by the FA for betting-related breaches.
09:20 - 16.05.2023
UPL SC Villa ban fan for life over hooliganism
SC Villa has banned James Kalibaala for life following numerous acts of hooliganism and indiscipline.
06:30 - 13.05.2023
AS Roma coach handed 3-match European ban
Roma will be without one of their coaches for the rest of the European season after he was handed a three-match suspension for punching a player
18:03 - 09.05.2023
American man faces 10 YEARS in prison for supplying drugs to Blessing Okagbare
A 43-year-old American man has plead guilty to supplying banned drugs to Olympic athletes including Nigeria's Blessing Okagbare.