Why São Paulo want the MP investigations shelved? | OneFootball

São Paulo has formally requested the closing of the civil inquiry being conducted by the São Paulo Public Prosecutor’s Office (MP-SP), which is investigating possible reckless management at the club.

The request is based on the understanding that the necessary clarifications have already been provided to prosecutors and that the proceeding has begun to drift away from its original purpose by incorporating a series of outside submissions.

The investigation, led by prosecutor Paulo Destro, was opened to examine signs of practices such as asset stripping, misuse of purpose, undue favoritism, and possible use of public funds, with potential collective impact.

Since it was opened, current and former officials have been called to testify, gradually expanding the scope of the investigation.

Internally, the assessment is that the civil inquiry has started to receive a growing number of petitions that are similar to one another, many of them submitted by third parties with no formal connection to the case. According to the club, this movement has broadened the scope to include issues that would not fall under the jurisdiction of the public and social assets prosecutor’s office.

One of the episodes that most bothered the current management occurred after one of these submissions, when 19 people were ordered to be summoned, including former president Carlos Miguel Aidar.

The legal department, under the guidance of Harry Massis Júnior’s administration, argues that there is no just cause for the inquiry to continue and alternatively requests that the subject of the investigation be more clearly defined.

The approach also calls for streamlining the ongoing investigations, since the club is the target of four proceedings at the MP-SP — three criminal and one civil — which, under this view, may create overlapping investigative steps and legal uncertainty.

Another argument presented is that a relevant part of the issues being addressed concerns the internal affairs of a private association and should therefore be analyzed primarily by its own statutory bodies.

In this sense, the club is also asking that the progress of the inquiry not be influenced by outside initiatives, such as complaints or petitions from third parties.

“São Paulo’s request does not interfere with the investigations currently underway by the Public Prosecutor’s Office. We reiterate our absolute respect for the responsible authorities and recognize the importance of their work in clarifying the facts,” Massis said in a statement released to journalists.

“In recent weeks, we have been repeatedly asked about the same issues, which ends up diverting the focus from what is essential. We trust in the authorities’ understanding and reaffirm our commitment to continue cooperating with all requests, as the current administration has consistently done. São Paulo Futebol Clube will under no circumstances give up investigating any possible irregularities that may have caused harm to the institution,” he added.

Former president Júlio Casares submitted his own request for the case to be closed, arguing that the suspicions are based on an anonymous complaint relying only on news reports, without concrete evidence. His defense claims there were no irregularities in the administrative management and that the main points have already been clarified to the authorities.

Despite the filings, Destro indicated that he does not recognize the appeal submitted and signaled that the investigation will continue. São Paulo’s request will be reviewed by a higher instance within the MP-SP itself. In the meantime, the proceeding remains active, with the possibility of further investigative steps.

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