STJD sets trial for John Textor for failing to present evidence of corruption in arbitration

The owner of SAF Botafogo, John Textorentered the trial agenda at the Superior Court of Sports Justice for Football for not presenting the evidence he said he had when stating that there was corruption in the arbitration in the Brazilian championship. On the agenda at the First Disciplinary Commission, the owner of SAF will be judged in a session scheduled for Monday, April 15, at 1 pm, for double infraction of the Brazilian Code of Sports Justice. The judging session will be broadcast live on the website of STJD of football.

At the beginning of March, John Textor gave an interview where he stated that he had recordings of referees complaining about not receiving promised bribes and stated that there had been manipulation of results in the Brazilian Championship in the last three years (2021, 2022 and 2023).

Aware of the statements, the Prosecutor’s Office requested the opening of an investigation to investigate the statements. The request was accepted by the president of the STJD, José Perdiz de Jesus, who ordered Textor to gather the evidence he claims to have within three days. The owner of Saf Botafogo spoke out, but did not present any evidence.

Given the non-delivery of the evidence, the rapporteur selected to process the investigation, auditor Mauro Marcelo de Lima e Silva, reiterated the determination and set a new deadline for delivery, which was once again not met.

The case was taken to the Plenary in a session on March 14, which unanimously declared the jurisdiction of the Sports Court to investigate the facts. By a majority of votes, the Plenum did not endorse the automatic suspension applied by the auditor processing the investigation.

The files were forwarded to the Sports Justice Attorney’s Office, which denounced John Textor for double infringement of the CBJD:

Article 220-A, item I: Fail to collaborate with Sports Justice bodies and other sports authorities in investigating irregularities or disciplinary infractions. Penalty: fine of R$100 to R$100 thousand, with a fixed deadline for compliance with the obligation.

Article 223: Failure to comply with or delay compliance with a decision, resolution, sports disciplinary transaction or determination of the Sports Court. Penalty: fine of R$100 to R$100 thousand.
Single paragraph. When the offender is a natural person, the penalty will be automatic suspension until the decision, resolution or determination is complied with, in addition to suspension for ninety to three hundred and sixty days and, in the event of a repeat offense, elimination.