Why Bruno Henrique of Flamengo May Face Two-Year Ban?

Flamengo winger Bruno Henrique has been booked for match-fixing charges and might be handed a potential ban of two years. It was back in November 2023, when the incident occurred during a game between Flamengo and Santos. The controversy arose after Bruno allegedly received a yellow card intentionally against Santos, which later even escalated to a red card. After an investigation, it was found that many suspicious accounts, which were registered the day before the game, placed most bets on Henrique receiving a yellow card. The Federal Police Investigation revealed that this move was planned by Bruno, along with his brother and several relatives, to gain profits from the card.

What Lies Next for Bruno Henrique?

In April 2025, the Flamengo player was booked under the Public Prosecutor's Office under Brazil's Sports fraud laws. If found guilty, Bruno might even be suspended from playing football for a certain duration or a lifetime ban, depending on the severity of the case. He might even be sent to prison for two to six years, depending on the seriousness of the offence. His team, Flamengo, however, has expressed their support for Bruno as he is still training with the club. Head coach Filipe Luis confirmed that the player remains in the squad and will continue playing unless a suspension is ordered.

Other Match-fixing Allegations in Recent Years

It is a shocking reality that players who are competing at the top flights engage in such heinous acts that it puts a serious question mark on the values, ethics and integrity of sportsmanship. Previously, Macarthur FC's Ulises Davila was found guilty of deliberately getting yellow cards in A-League games. In 2023, former Leeds United player Pawel Cibicki was found guilty of the same and was handed a four-year global ban by FIFA.

Such incidents not only tarnish the global image of a league but also put the reputation of the club at stake. We await further decisions from the higher legal authorities in Brazil regarding Bruno Henrique's alleged fixing scam.