Flamengo’s Bruno Henrique to Face Trial Over Alleged Match-Fixing Scandal.

By Ohworisi Elohor.

Flamengo forward Bruno Henrique was ordered to stand trial in Brazil for alleged involvement in a match-fixing scheme linked to online betting by members of his family, according to a court ruling made public on Friday.

The 34-year-old was accused of deliberately collecting a yellow card during a Brazilian league match in 2023, allegedly in coordination with relatives who placed bets on the incident.

The charges, filed in June, followed a police investigation that reportedly uncovered evidence of coordinated fraudulent activity aimed at securing financial gain through sports betting platforms.

A judge from a Brasilia court stated that “criminal conduct” appeared to have been committed by Henrique, and authorized the case to proceed to trial. If convicted, the footballer could face a prison sentence ranging from two to six years.

The incident under scrutiny took place in November 2023, during a league match between Flamengo and Santos, which ended in a 2–1 loss for Flamengo in Brasilia.

Henrique was first booked for a foul and then shown a second yellow card for dissent, leading to his dismissal from the match.
Investigators allegedly retrieved messages from the phone of Henrique’s brother, Wander Nunes, indicating that the player’s actions had been intentional.

Police stated that Nunes encouraged the conduct with the intent of profiting from the betting outcome. He, along with other family members including a sister-in-law and cousin, was also charged and will stand trial.

Authorities reported that the relatives created betting accounts the day before the match and placed wagers specifically on Henrique receiving a yellow card. As part of the probe, multiple search operations were carried out in November 2024, including raids on Henrique’s home in Rio de Janeiro and his room at Flamengo’s training center.

Despite the ongoing legal proceedings, Henrique remained active on the field, representing Flamengo at the Club World Cup in the United States in June. He also captained the team in a recent league victory over Red Bull Bragantino.

The court directed both Henrique and his brother to appear before the judge within 10 days of the ruling.
The case is part of a wider match-fixing investigation that has cast a shadow over Brazilian football, with several top-tier clubs and players under scrutiny.

In response to the growing scandal, Brazil’s congress has established a special commission to examine the integrity of the sport.