VIP box scandal: review contracts, expel involved ex-directors | OneFootball

The external investigation hired by São Paulo to look into the alleged irregularities committed by former directors Mara Casares and Douglas Schwartzmann has recommended a review of all agreements made by the pair during their time in internal positions, as well as advising that both be expelled from the club’s membership.

The information was released by the portal ‘Globo Esporte’ on the morning of Thursday (15th). Mara, ex-wife of president Julio Casares and former cultural and events director of the club, and Schwartzmann, former head of youth teams, were caught on audio negotiating a club box for the concert of Colombian singer Shakira in March of last year.

The recommendation was the result of the external investigation that examined the irregularities in the case. The verdict was that there were indeed irregularities in the dealings.

According to the investigation, both Mara Casares and Douglas Schwartzmann should receive the maximum penalty provided for in the club’s internal regulations in the investigation by the Disciplinary and Ethics Committee.

According to Article 10 of SECTION IV, “committing an act of irregular or reckless management, as per current legislation, especially as provided in art. 25 of Law No. 13,155, of August 4, 2015, or any law that replaces it,” carries a penalty of “elimination.” In other words, exclusion from the membership. Mara has already requested a leave of absence from her position on the Deliberative Council.

THE CASE

Mara was caught together with Schwartzmann in a controversy over passing on a space in the Tricolor stadium for a concert by Colombian singer Shakira in March. Both were caught in phone recordings made by the whistleblower, who felt wronged after claiming to have “been robbed” by a fourth person involved.

Mara’s leave of absence, however, came at an opportune moment for Casares’ administration. It happened one day after the approval of São Paulo’s budget for 2026, in which she voted in favor of the accounts proposed by her ex-husband.

Although now on leave, Mara will continue to be investigated in the case on two fronts.

First, she will be the subject of a police inquiry opened at the request of the São Paulo State Public Prosecutor’s Office.

Prosecutor José Reinaldo Guimarães Carneiro, from the Tourism and Sports Commission of the São Paulo Public Prosecutor’s Office, saw clear evidence of crimes involving São Paulo, and not just in the consumer relationship between the other parties involved.

“The first crime is private corruption in sports, which is a crime provided for in the new General Sports Law, in effect since 2023. This crime, in fact, presupposes the manipulation of private interests to the detriment of the club’s assets, of the associations,” said Carneiro.

“And a second crime, which is also very serious, is coercion during the course of the process. Because calling someone and intimidating them to withdraw a lawsuit under threat of repercussions, as the recordings suggest, is an indication of a crime,” the prosecutor added.

The Public Prosecutor’s suggestion is that all three involved in the audio (Douglas Schwartzmann, Mara Casares, and the whistleblower) be heard, as well as everyone mentioned, including Marcio Carlomagno, general superintendent of São Paulo.

“All the money collected by an association, whether in a sports arena due to football or another sporting activity, must revert to the club. And not to benefit the private interests of those who should be managing the club. The police will take the next steps,” he said.

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