Flamengo forward Bruno Henrique will face trial in Brazil over allegations of sports fraud linked to online betting, according to a court ruling obtained by AFP on Friday.
The 34-year-old was formally charged in June for allegedly deliberately earning a yellow card during a 2023 domestic league match, in coordination with gamblers within his own family.
“The information indicates the existence of criminal conduct by the accused Bruno Henrique,” stated a judge from a Brasília court, authorizing the trial.
Henrique is accused of match-fixing, a criminal offense in Brazil that carries a sentence of two to six years in prison.
The investigation focuses on Flamengo’s 2–1 loss to Santos in Brasília in November 2023. During the match, Henrique received a yellow card for a foul, then a second for insulting the referee, resulting in a red card and ejection from the game.
Authorities uncovered incriminating messages on the phone of Henrique’s brother, Wander Nunes, who will also face trial. According to the judge, the police concluded that Henrique “intentionally acted to be penalized,” while his brother “encouraged him with the aim of obtaining financial gain”.
Investigators found that Henrique’s brother, sister-in-law, and cousin opened online betting accounts the day before the match and placed wagers specifically on him receiving a yellow card.
In November 2024, police executed search warrants at Henrique’s home in Rio de Janeiro and at his room in Flamengo’s training facility as part of the probe.
Despite the ongoing investigation, Henrique has continued to play for Flamengo. He featured in the Club World Cup in the United States in June and most recently captained the team in a league victory over Red Bull Bragantino on Wednesday.
Henrique and his brother have been ordered to appear before a judge within 10 days, the court ruling states.
The case comes amid a broader match-fixing scandal shaking Brazilian football, with several top clubs under investigation. In response, Brazil’s Congress has launched a special commission to probe the growing crisis within South America’s most prominent football league.
