(sabasports report)American businessman John Textor is a majority shareholder in clubs such as Lyon, Botafogo and Crystal Palace. In an interview with Brazilian media outlet Globo Sports, he spoke about corruption and match-fixing in Brazilian football, and by extension in European football. He has accused some of its clubs and players of match-fixing, comments that have also been punished by Brazil’s sports tribunal.
“I could have made my point differently, less specifically,” Mr John Textor says. What’s happening now is a joke, the whistleblower is being charged for the first time. How do I know there is corruption in football? Because someone told me they had announced a special task force against match fixing. If Brazil doesn’t have a match-fixing problem, why do they need a task force? Why is it that foreigners are considered to be the ones causing problems in Brazil, when this is a global problem that has been recognized here. The Brazilian Football Federation meets with representatives of other clubs, but not with me? Did they announce the task force because they were worried about match-fixing in Paraguay, Guatemala or Turkey? No, they’re worried about this.”
Mr John Textor‘s comments reveal his deep dissatisfaction with management and corruption in Brazilian football, and raise questions about match fixing in global football. His remarks sparked widespread attention and controversy, especially in Brazilian football.