STJD Rejects Flamengo Request in Bruno Henrique Case

The match-fixing investigation involving Flamengo’s Bruno Henrique will move forward after Brazil’s Superior Court of Sports Justice (STJD) rejected a statute of limitations request. Flamengo had argued the case should not proceed due to the time elapsed since the match in question, but the Disciplinary Commission voted against that line of defense.

Good to Know

• STJD voted 4–1 to reject Flamengo’s request to apply the statute of limitations.
• Bruno Henrique and four amateur athletes face match-fixing allegations tied to sports betting.
• If found guilty, Henrique could be suspended for up to two years, miss 24 matches, and face a fine of R$200,000.

The case centers on a match between Flamengo and Santos, played in Brasília on November 1, 2023. Flamengo’s legal team argued that nearly two years had passed before the formal complaint, making the case time-barred.

“Flamengo is here to show support for its athlete and do justice. We began the search for justice through the statute of limitations, which, for me, is irremediable,” Flamengo lawyer Michel Filho told the panel. He added that the infraction notice only appeared in August 2024, well after the contested match.

Despite those arguments, the 1st Disciplinary Commission of the STJD sided with prosecutors. The final vote was 4–1 against accepting the statute of limitations, clearing the way for the case to continue.

On August 1, 2025, the STJD Prosecutor’s Office officially charged Bruno Henrique along with Wander Nunes Pinto Júnior, Claudinei Vitor Mosquete Bassan, Andryl Sales Nascimento dos Reis, and Douglas Ribeiro Pina Barcelos. The group is accused of involvement in a match-fixing scheme linked to betting activity.

At this stage, the Commission is only examining preliminary issues, such as whether the complaint can proceed. The full merits of the case—including evidence of betting manipulation—will be addressed later.