Brazilian Sports Tribunal Explains Why Flamengo’s Bruno Henrique Is Still Eligible to Play

Luís Otávio Veríssimo Teixeira, president of Brazil’s Sports Justice Supreme Court (STJD), offered clarity on why Flamengo forward Bruno Henrique has not been suspended despite ongoing investigations into alleged match-fixing. Speaking to ge, Teixeira explained that the case, initially archived in 2024, lacked sufficient evidence at the time, though it may now be reopened based on new information from a federal police report.

The original investigation stemmed from suspicions that Bruno Henrique deliberately earned a yellow card in a 2023 match against Santos to benefit betting schemes. However, the STJD’s prosecutor’s office determined that there was no economic gain evident in the betting alert issued by Sportsradar, noting that potential profits were negligible compared to the player’s salary. With new findings from Brazil’s Federal Police now in play, the STJD has formally requested access to the full report.

Teixeira emphasized that many disciplinary cases do not progress due to the lack of investigative tools like bank record access or wiretaps, which are usually only available to public prosecutors. Between 2022 and 2024, over 300 alerts were reported, but only 36 players were sanctioned by the STJD, all supported by external legal bodies.

Currently, Bruno Henrique remains eligible to play. Preventive suspension, Teixeira clarified, is not a form of pre-judgment and should only be applied in exceptional cases with robust supporting evidence. The STJD prosecutor has not requested this measure at this time.

Meanwhile, the Federal District’s public prosecutor will now review the 84-page police report. If formal charges are filed, Henrique could face criminal trial. He has been indicted under Article 200 of the Brazilian Sports Law, which carries a prison sentence of two to six years, as well as for fraud. If charged and convicted by the STJD, the player could face up to two years’ suspension or even a lifetime ban from football.