The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has launched an investigation after Sportradar flagged unusual betting activity involving a yellow card shown to Fluminense midfielder Lucho Acosta during a match.
The CBF received Sportradar's report and referred the case to the Superior Tribunal de Justiça Desportiva (STJD), the Federal Police and the Ministério Público for further investigation.
The report concerns an atypical volume of wagers placed on Argentinian midfielder Lucho Acosta receiving a yellow card during Fluminense's 1-1 draw with Red Bull Bragantino at the Maracanã on July 17 in the 19th round of the Brasileirão.
The unusual betting pattern was identified on Stake and later included in Sportradar's integrity report submitted to the CBF. Acosta was shown a yellow card in the closing minutes after referee Davi de Oliveira Lacerda reported that the player recklessly pushed an opponent during a confrontation involving several players.
Fluminense said in a statement that it had received a confidential notification from the CBF and would fully cooperate with the relevant authorities. The club added that Acosta denied any involvement in irregularities.
The investigation remains at an early stage, and the midfielder continues to train with the squad and to be selected for matches.
Acosta joined Fluminense in August 2025 from FC Dallas of Major League Soccer and has made 52 appearances for the club, scoring eight goals and providing nine assists. Fluminense extended his contract through the end of 2029, only a few days ago.
The case follows other betting-related investigations in Brazilian football, including Flamengo forward Bruno Henrique, who is facing criminal proceedings over allegations that he deliberately received a yellow card during a 2023 Brasileirão match to benefit betting activity.
In April 2026, a Federal District court rejected his appeal, allowing the criminal case to continue.
The incident that led to Acosta's booking ended with two red cards, shown to Fluminense's John Kennedy and Bragantino's Fabinho, as well as yellow cards for Juan Pablo Freytes and Henry Mosquera
