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Brazilian football authorities hit Flamengo’s star forward with suspension and fine over alleged deliberate yellow card scheme.
The Superior Tribunal de Justiça Desportiva (STJD) suspended Bruno Henrique for twelve matches and fined him BR$60,000 ($11,021) following a disciplinary hearing on 4 September 2025. The Flamengo forward allegedly earned a deliberate yellow card during a match to benefit sports betting activities.
Key takeaways:
- Bruno Henrique suspended for 12 matches and fined BR$60,000 ($11,021)
- Case involves alleged deliberate yellow card during 1 November 2023 match against Santos
- STJD rejected Flamengo’s statute of limitations defence in 4-1 vote
- Henrique’s brother Wander Nunes Júnior among four other individuals denounced
- Parallel legal proceedings ongoing at Court of Justice of the Federal District
Why Brazilian authorities took two years to act
The wheels of Brazilian football justice turned slowly on this one.
The STJD Prosecutor’s Office waited until 1 August 2025 to formally denounce Henrique and four other individuals, including his brother Wander Nunes Júnior. Three additional amateur athletes were also named in the complaint. The betting investigation moved slowly through Brazil’s football justice system.
How Flamengo’s defence strategy failed
The club thought they had a trump card up their sleeve.
Flamengo requested that the statute of limitations be applied to kill the case early. The 1st Disciplinary Commission of the STJD rejected this request in a 4-1 vote, allowing the investigation to continue. The club’s legal gamble backfired completely.
What happened during the controversial Santos match
The smoking gun centres on what unfolded during injury time.
The case centres on events during injury time of the 1 November 2023 match in Brasília. Bruno Henrique received a yellow card in the final moments, then got a red card after arguing with the referee. Messages between Henrique and his brother were submitted as evidence in the match-fixing case.
Why Henrique avoided a harsher penalty
The player dodged a potentially career-damaging bullet here.
The Flamengo player faced much worse consequences if fully convicted. Potential punishments included a two-year suspension, a 24-match ban, and fines up to BR$200,000. The twelve-match suspension and BR$60,000 fine represent a lighter outcome than originally possible.
How Brazil’s Sports Justice system handled the case
The STJD relied heavily on existing legal frameworks.
The STJD based its decision on Articles 243 and 243-A of the Brazilian Code of Sports Justice. These regulations target fraudulent conduct designed to influence match outcomes. The tribunal used existing legal frameworks to address corruption where professional football meets betting.
What this case means for South American football
This case doesn’t exist in isolation.
A third-division soccer club from Campana, Argentina, was also accused of a match-fixing attempt on 6 August 2025. The case shows how betting regulations issues affect football across South America. A parallel legal process continues at the Court of Justice of the Federal District, meaning Henrique’s legal troubles aren’t finished.
Source: Gambling Insider
