U.S. soccer mogul John Texter will go on trial in Brazil's top sports court for ignoring an order to submit evidence alleging that the Brazilian league is plagued by match-fixing, officials announced Wednesday. did.
Texter, whose players include Brazilian club Botafogo, will stand trial before the disciplinary committee of the Higher Sports Court of Football on April 15, the court said in a statement.
If found guilty of violating national sports laws, he could face a 360-day suspension and a fine of up to $40,000.
The 58-year-old media and tech mogul has repeatedly raised allegations of match-fixing in Brazil's top flight, and blamed “corruption” for Botafogo's spectacular collapse at home in the 2023 season, which rivals Palmeiras ultimately won. blamed it on.
The court launched an investigation into the allegations in March and ordered Mr Texter to produce evidence he said he had obtained, including a purported audio recording of a referee complaining that he had not received the bribes he was promised.
Mr. Texter, who has never presented evidence of match-fixing claims, did not respond.
Texter acquired a 90% stake in Rio de Janeiro-based Botafogo in 2022. His Eagle Football Holdings also has significant stakes in English club Crystal Palace, Lyon in France and Molenbeek in Belgium.
News of his trial comes a day after Palmeiras asked in the same court for Textor to be ordered to “refrain from mentioning or referring to Palmeiras” after Textor reiterated his match-fixing claims on Monday. .
Texter said on his website that expert analysis and artificial intelligence had discovered “unusual deviations” in players' performance in top-flight matches.
Texter is already at loggerheads with Brazil's sports court. In November, he was suspended and fined, blaming corruption for Botafogo's decisive defeat against Palmeiras.
In response to the incident, Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) president Edonardo Rodríguez also sued Texter for defamation.
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