Flamengo star risks two-year ban after betting scandal bombshell | OneFootball

Bruno Henrique, Flamengo's forward, faces a potential two-year ban from football after being charged by the Superior Tribunal de Justiça Desportiva (STJD) for suspected match-fixing, specifically related to deliberately receiving a yellow card during a 2023 Brazilian league fixture against Santos, according to Lance.

The STJD brought charges based on two articles from the Brazilian Sports Justice Code. The first concerns intentionally harming one's own team, with aggravating circumstances if financial benefit is involved. The second targets conduct that violates sporting ethics by seeking to influence a match's outcome—receiving a deliberate card carries a possible penalty of 12 to 24 matches.

This disciplinary case emerged from the broader "Operação Spot-Fixing," a Federal Police probe launched in 2024, targeting match-fixing schemes involving yellow cards. Authorities focused on an incident in the match on 1 November 2023, where Bruno Henrique was first cautioned and then sent off for protesting a refereeing decision.

According to the Federal Police's findings cited by Lance, Henrique allegedly helped relatives—including his brother, sister-in-law, cousin, and seven other individuals—profit from insider bets. Wagers placed with companies such as Kaizen Gaming, GaleraBet, and Betano reportedly paid out as much as R$5,000 in certain cases. Investigators uncovered messages on Henrique's brother's phone in which the player apparently confirmed his “suspension risk” and gave guidance on when he would be booked, strengthening the case for possible fraud and sporting event manipulation.

The police formally charged Bruno Henrique in April 2025 as part of the criminal investigation. Meanwhile, the STJD—in its sporting jurisdiction—opened a case in late 2024 after receiving evidence from law enforcement in June 2025.

In May, Bruno Henrique gave video testimony to the STJD, postponing his in-person appearance due to his Flamengo commitments. His legal team has since requested the disciplinary case be dropped or moved from the District Court to Federal Court. The case is moving forward, but Flamengo and the player's representatives maintain his innocence.

As the disciplinary and criminal proceedings unfold, Flamengo are left waiting for a definitive ruling that could shape both the player's future and the club’s immediate ambitions. (Source: Lance)

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