Commentator criticizes John Textor’s conduct in accusation of manipulation: ‘It’s turning into a stage, a circus’

The way that John Textor is dealing with the issue of match-fixing in Brazilian football was criticized on the program “Seleção SporTV”. The commentator Pedro Moreno disagrees with the way of acting of the shareholder of SAF do Botafogo.

– There is a difference between the cases of the Apito Mafia and the betting case to now. They treated it silently. Last year, the complaint only came to light when the Goiás Public Ministry came in. What is the difference between these two very serious cases, which tarnish Brazilian football, and this one involving Textor? The way it is being handled. It’s turning into a stage. I don’t know the main objective, if it’s self-promotion, but it’s turning it into a stage, a circus. Even if there is something, we will only know with investigation, the way it is treated doesn’t help at all. It only hurts the case. If there is something, those involved are already aware that it is being investigated. This even harms Botafogo, the club he owns – claimed Pedro Moreno.

The host André Rizek was another who found Textor’s acting style strange.

– Last year he handed this report to the STJD, which has no power to investigate. It’s harmless, you can’t ask to break confidentiality, you can’t investigate, you can only act afterwards. The court would not be able to investigate. This year Textor did the right thing by taking it to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, but by making it public he threw a serious and confidential investigation into the trash. I’m sorry for the circus that such a serious issue has turned into. He ends up throwing complaints to the wind and doesn’t treat them seriously – said Rizek.

The journalist said he was aware of John Textor’s report and even knew which players in the Palmeiras 5 x 0 São Paulo match were accused of manipulating the document.

– I have known since November last year the names mentioned in the report. Why don’t I speak? It would be irresponsible. The number of managers who think they are robbed in football is huge, including the Club World Cup. There is a president who is sure that his club was operated, that there was a scheme to harm it. I’m not a parrot, I listen and repeat, I have journalistic responsibility. I know the report. For me, it has to be treated confidentially, by the competent bodies. When Textor says five São Paulo players involved is irresponsible, he puts the entire squad in check. Knowing the material, there is no proof that they manipulated results. I know the name, but I’ll never say it. I think it is irresponsible to make this public before being investigated – he added.