Casares denies ‘theft’ at São Paulo: “I’ll prove I’m being targeted” | OneFootball

Julio Casares’ situation is becoming increasingly complicated. This Thursday (9), witnesses stated in testimony that the former São Paulo president withdrew around R$ 100,000 per month from the club’s cashiers and took it home in envelopes and bags.

In his defense, Julio Casares’ legal team said in a statement that “everything is properly safeguarded in the Club’s Accounting Department” and that the cash transactions refer to “at least 172 São Paulo matches in various competitions.”

After the bombshell broke, Julio Casares himself also spoke out, denying the accusations, in remarks given to UOL:

“Once again, I am the victim of persecution and fabricated stories meant to damage my reputation. I vehemently reject the absurd and false accusations made against me. I remain calm and will prove with technical evidence and conclusive facts my complete integrity in this scheme.”

“I am fully innocent and was drawn into a setup orchestrated even with selective leaks that happen repeatedly, despite the confidentiality and court-ordered secrecy in place.”

“This is all the result of a fratricidal political war aimed exclusively at a struggle for power. With respect for the authorities, everything will be demonstrated and the truth revealed through the proper channels.”

“We will revisit everything and demand proper accountability from everyone involved in this arbitrariness, with false and criminal statements, with absolute cowardice and refined cruelty. I continue to respect the confidentiality ordered in the case and will speak at the appropriate time,” Casares said in his defense after the statements of witnesses heard by the Civil Police and the Public Prosecutor’s Office came to light.

MORE THAN R$ 10 MILLION WITHOUT CLEAR EXPLANATIONS

The statements came from people whose names were withheld, who worked directly with Casares at Tricolor throughout his term. Between 2021 and 2025, 35 withdrawals were recorded by the club’s finance department, totaling around R$ 11 million. Other cash deposits totaling R$ 1.5 million into the former president’s accounts are also being investigated by the Task Force.

“It was a variable amount, I think once a month. This (happened once a month). R$ 100,000, R$ 115 (thousand), R$ 118 (thousand)… R$ 100 (thousand), R$ 109 (thousand) and R$ 118 (thousand). Yes, in cash. In an envelope, inside a plastic folder. The envelope came sealed, vacuum-packed. So I didn’t count the amount, because it already came sealed. And there was a receipt specifying the amount,” said one of the witnesses heard.

The justification for the amounts was that they were intended for São Paulo “promotional activities,” which were never explained or verified. The witnesses also said that Julio claimed the money was to “purchase tickets,” which was also never formally reported.

“He documented it with the receipt that was forwarded. It is a ticket purchase receipt, which is what he did. They would send a promotional activity request, and I don’t know what promotional activity that is. And then, when it came to accounting for it, he (Julio Casares) (…) signed a document… not him, his representative (signed), saying that the tickets had been purchased for match day. There are a series of matches,” one of the witnesses explained.

“I can’t clarify that. The one who has to clarify that to you is the president. It’s almost R$ 7 million. I have the documentation, the receipt, saying it was used for the purchase of tickets by the presidency. That’s what we have,” said the witness about the destination of the withdrawn money.

“This receipt in the folder with the money said it was for promotional activity. He (the finance manager) handed it over with the folder and it stayed in the folder. It was delivered together with the money. The physical copy that came with the money stayed inside the folder; it was not returned,” added the person heard in the inquiry.

As reported by GE.com, the amounts requested by Casares from Tricolor’s finance department were delivered in envelopes to the president’s office on the second floor of Morumbi. There, he stored the money he received in bags.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.