Flamengo striker Bruno Henrique appeared in person before Brazil's Superior Court of Sports Justice (STJD) in Rio de Janeiro as the tribunal resumed judgment on his alleged involvement in betting manipulation.
The session follows his initial 12-match suspension and BR60,000 ($12,000) fine for allegedly benefiting bettors during a 2023 league match against Santos in Brasília.
The forward's punishment was based on an article of Brazil's Sports Justice Code, which prohibits conduct intended to influence match results.
According to the original accusation, Bruno Henrique informed his brother before the match that he planned to receive a yellow card, which allegedly prompted bets on the event.
After Flamengo obtained an injunction suspending the penalty, the player continued to compete. The case could now determine whether the forward will be sidelined for the rest of the Brazilian Championship.
If the first ruling is upheld, Bruno Henrique's suspension would exceed the remaining six league matches, effectively ending his domestic season.
However, such sanctions do not automatically extend to international competitions.
The player could still appear in the club's final match in Copa Libertadores, one of the biggest South American football competitions, unless the Brazilian Football Confederation requests FIFA's intervention.
Speaking before the verdict, Flamengo assistant coach Filipe Luís addressed the uncertainty: "First, we're going to wait for Bruno Henrique's judgment and see what happens. Our squad has been built very clearly, with two full-backs per position, defenders, six midfielders. Within this structure and our model of play, we make adjustments."
The STJD's decision is expected to set an important precedent for Brazil's handling of betting-related misconduct in professional football.
Flamengo coach Filipe Luís recently criticised betting sponsorships in Brazilian football
