The Colorado Rapids have suspended winger Max Alves in connection with alleged unlawful sports gambling, ESPN reported on Wednesday citing a source with knowledge of the situation.
The Major League Soccer club released a statement announcing a player had been suspended but did not identify him: “We are aware of the reports regarding a Colorado Rapids player in connection with unlawful sports gambling. We take matters of this nature seriously and seek at all times to protect the integrity of the game,” read the statement.
“The player has been removed from all team activities while MLS conducts an investigation into the matter.”
MLS also issued a statement with similar wording, adding that a current and former player had been involved in unlawful gambling.
Earlier on Wednesday, Brazilian state prosecutors charged 16 people, including seven professional soccer players, with alleged match-fixing and illegal betting in what threatens to be one of the largest scandals since Brazil legalized sports gambling in 2018.
Brazilian justice minister Flavio Dino ordered the federal police to launch an investigation into the scheme after the charging documents were published. Prosecutors of the Public Ministry of Goias said the alleged offenses took place in 13 matches in Series A and B of the Brazilian Championship, including eight played in 2022.
According to the charging documents, a criminal gang paid players to commit infractions, and would then bet on such outcomes to win payouts when the offenses occurred.
The group would offer up to 500,000 reais ($100,000) as an upfront payment to the players from clubs such as Santos, Juventude, Cuiaba, Cruzeiro, Athletico Paranaense, Internacional and Fluminense, the prosecutors alleged.
Santos defender Eduardo Bauermann is accused of receiving at least 50,000 reais ($10,000) to get a yellow card in a match against Aval last year, according to the documents.
Gabriel Tota, Paulo Miranda, Igor Carius, Victor Ramos, Fernando Neto and Matheus Gomes are among the other players charged, according to the documents.
The Brazilian Football Federation (CBF) sent a letter to the Presidency of the Republic and the Ministry of Justice, requesting that the federal police be involved in the case, saying there is no possibility of the current competition being suspended.
“I’ve been working together with Fifa, as well as Brazilian clubs and Federations, with the aim of combating all types of crime, fraud or illicit action within football,” CBF president Ednaldo Rodrigues said in a statement. “Those who commit crimes should not be part of Brazilian and world football.”
Sports betting has been legal in Brazil only since 2018 when the country allowed online gambling. It has exploded since then, and gambling adverts are often prominent during, before and after soccer matches. Brazil is currently preparing laws to tax and regulate the sector.
Alves, who is from Brazil, joined the Rapids from Flamengo before the 2022 season and made 31 appearances for the club across all competitions. He’s made 12 appearances for the club so far in 2023, including a start in Saturday’s 3-1 win over the LA Galaxy.
