MLS player suspended as Brazilian officials charge 16 in alleged match-fixing scheme

The Colorado Rapids have suspended winger Max Alves in connection with alleged unlawful sports gambling, ESPN reported on Wednesday citing a source with knowledge of the situation.

The Major League Soccer club released a statement announcing a player had been suspended but did not identify him: “We are aware of the reports regarding a Colorado Rapids player in connection with unlawful sports gambling. We take matters of this nature seriously and seek at all times to protect the integrity of the game,” read the statement.

“The player has been removed from all team activities while MLS conducts an investigation into the matter.”

MLS also issued a statement with similar wording, adding that a current and former player had been involved in unlawful gambling.

Earlier on Wednesday, Brazilian state prosecutors charged 16 people, including seven professional soccer players, with alleged match-fixing and illegal betting in what threatens to be one of the largest scandals since Brazil legalized sports gambling in 2018.

Brazilian justice minister Flavio Dino ordered the federal police to launch an investigation into the scheme after the charging documents were published. Prosecutors of the Public Ministry of Goias said the alleged offenses took place in 13 matches in Series A and B of the Brazilian Championship, including eight played in 2022.

According to the charging documents, a criminal gang paid players to commit infractions, and would then bet on such outcomes to win payouts when the offenses occurred.

The group would offer up to 500,000 reais ($100,000) as an upfront payment to the players from clubs such as Santos, Juventude, Cuiaba, Cruzeiro, Athletico Paranaense, Internacional and Fluminense, the prosecutors alleged.

Sant