The Plenum of the Superior Court of Sports Justice (STJD) voted this Friday (26), to suspend John Textor, owner of SAF do Botafogo, for 45 days and a fine of R$100,000. The punishment refers to the businessman’s statements after the game against Palmeiras, in November 2023, for the Brasileirão.
The decision increased the initial sentence given by the 5th Disciplinary Commission of the STJD (remember below). As he had already served 28 days, John Textor is prevented from attending Botafogo games, as home team or visitor, for the next 17 days.
“It’s not a red card, he changed the game. This is corruption, this is theft. Please fine me, Ednaldo, but you need to resign tomorrow morning. That’s what needs to happen. This championship has become a joke”, said Textor, in an interview with Premiere, in November 2023.
The Plenary members then agreed to declassify article 258B and include article 258 (conduct contrary to sporting ethics). Therefore, John Textor was punished with 15 days and a fine of R$100,000 in article 258 and 30 days in 243-F.
Half of the fine (R$50,000) will be donated to charities.
John Textor did not attend the Plenary this Friday (26). Last week, the leader was at the Court and met with Felipe Bevilacqua, vice-president of the Pleno. The American businessman leaves Rio de Janeiro this evening after around 10 days in the city.
In defense of John Textor, lawyers Michel Asseff Filho and João Marçal stated that they did not expect the case to be judged since there is a request for an investigation into allegations of match-fixing in Brazilian football, made by the businessman, which would be related to the res judicata.
“We have a CPI in the Senate, there is a request for an investigation. We need to provide some type of security to anyone who wants to make a report. It is necessary to give power to those who are going to investigate”, stated, at one point, Dr. Michel Assef Filho.
The defense also asked for the disqualification of article 258 (field invasion) because he was the president of the club, with credentials, and had entered the field of play at the end of the game. Furthermore, he highlighted the fact that John Textor was a first-time defendant in the STJD Plenary.
Textor will return to Court
John Textor is also accused of two articles of the Brazilian Code of Sports Justice after failing to present to the Court the evidence he claims to have proven corruption in Brazilian arbitration. The session was scheduled for April 15th, but was postponed and will be held on May 6th.
The complaint came after an interview with John Textorin which he stated that he had recordings of referees complaining about not receiving promised bribes and that there had been manipulation of results in the 2021, 2022 and 2023 editions of the Brasileirão.
For not having attended the Court within the deadline, until March 11, the American businessman was denounced in the following articles:
- Article 220-A item I: failure to collaborate with the Sports Justice bodies and other sports authorities in investigating irregularities or disciplinary infractions, with a penalty of R$100 to R$100 thousand
- Article 223: fail to comply with or delay compliance with a decision, resolution, sports disciplinary transaction or determination of the Sports Court, with penalty of a fine of R$100 to R$100 thousand, in addition to suspension for 90 to 360 days.
The deadline ended on March 11, and John Textor did not send the alleged audios to the STJD. The president of the Superior Court of Sports Justice, José Perdiz de Jesus, made the request for the opening of an investigation requested by the Prosecutor’s Office to investigate the accusation of corruption in Brazilian arbitration.
Remember the episode
After the defeat to Palmeiras, at Nilton Santos, Textor harshly criticized the arbitration and the CBF, calling for the resignation of president Ednaldo Rodrigues – remember here.
The businessman was denounced in three articles of the Brazilian Code of Sports Justice (CBJD): 243-F (“offending someone in their honor”), 258-B (invading a place designated for the refereeing team or starting place) and 184 (when the agent commits two or more infractions, the penalties accumulate).
John Textor at STJD, in Rio de Janeiro, this Thursday, April 18th
Wellington Campos/Itatiaia
In December, the 5th Disciplinary Commission of the STJD imposed a fine of R$25,000 and a 35-day suspension on John Textor, but Botafogo obtained a suspensive effect – which extended until this session.
Before this Friday’s session (26), John Textor’s trial was postponed twice by Bevilacqua, vice-president of the STJD, due to requests for review.
On the 18th, the two met and the owner of SAF do Botafogo showed willingness to collaborate and send evidence which he claims to have about match-fixing in Brazilian football.
