A Brazilian court has rejected an appeal filed by Flamengo forward Bruno Henrique and other defendants in the case investigating alleged betting-related match manipulation, allowing criminal proceedings to move forward.
The Third Criminal Chamber of the Federal District Court (TJ-DF) unanimously dismissed the defendants’ request to overturn a previous ruling that accepted the charges brought by prosecutors. The decision confirms that the criminal case will proceed.
The defense had argued that the case should be halted due to the alleged absence of formal victim representation, a requirement in certain fraud cases under Brazilian law.
According to the defendants, communications from integrity bodies and responses from betting operators to police requests would not qualify as valid expressions of intent to pursue prosecution. The court rejected this argument.
The case centres on allegations that Bruno Henrique deliberately received a yellow card during a Brazilian Championship match between Flamengo and Santos on 1 November 2023, in Brasília, to benefit bets placed by relatives.
Prosecutors claim the player coordinated with his brother, Wander Nunes Pinto Junior, enabling family members to place wagers on a specific in-game event. Betting operators reportedly flagged unusual betting patterns linked to the match, which triggered the initial investigation.
As part of the probe, Federal Police analysed approximately 4,000 WhatsApp messages obtained from Nunes’ phone. According to investigators, the exchanges suggest prior knowledge of the planned booking. During the match, Bruno Henrique received two yellow cards in the second half and was sent off.
Eight other individuals, including members of the player’s family, are also facing charges linked to the alleged scheme.
The player has also received a 12-match suspension and a fine of BR60,000 ($11,100) from Brazil’s Superior Court of Sports Justice
