The 3rd Criminal Chamber of the TJDFT accepted the MPDFT's appeal and made Flamengo striker Bruno Henrique a defendant for fraud, in addition to sports manipulation. The decision overturned a first-instance ruling that had rejected that charge. The player's defense announced it will appeal the sentence.
On December 4, 2025, the 3rd Criminal Chamber of the Court of Justice of the Federal District and Territories (TJDFT) unanimously accepted an appeal from the Special Action Group to Combat Organized Crime (Gaeco), linked to the Public Ministry of the Federal District and Territories (MPDFT). The decision made Flamengo striker Bruno Henrique a defendant for the crime of fraud, related to sports betting.
In July 2025, first-instance Judge Fernando Brandini Barbagalo had partially accepted the complaint, making Bruno Henrique and his brother, Wander Nunes Pinto Júnior, defendants only for sports result manipulation. The judge rejected the fraud charge, arguing a lack of sufficient elements and no formal statement from betting houses as victims.
The rapporteur, Judge Demétrius Gomes, argued that the International Betting Integrity Agency (IBIA) has the capacity to represent betting houses. The companies showed interest in punishing the investigated parties, and probes by the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) and IBIA justify continuing the criminal action. Bruno Henrique is accused of informing his brother about a yellow card he would receive in a Flamengo vs. Santos match in the 2023 Brazilian Championship, enabling bets based on that information.
In the sports sphere, the Superior Court of Sports Justice (STJD) imposed only a fine on the athlete, who continued playing normally. The penalty for fraud ranges from one to five years in prison, plus a fine, under article 171 of the Penal Code. Result manipulation carries two to six years in prison.
Bruno Henrique's defense reacted with indignation. "The fact contradicts the well-founded decision of the first-instance judge. With confidence in the Judiciary, the defense will file an appeal with the competent bodies, which will demonstrate, once again, the clear mistake of the complaint," it stated in a note. The appeal will go to the Superior Court of Justice (STJ). The case was first revealed by Metrópoles.