A ghost game in Brazil has taken place according to reports on sports betting. Earlier this year, there is also a similar case in Ukraine.
Ghost games are matches that advertised to have been played. Complete with betting markets offered at the event. However, the game did not ever take place.
Which Ghost Game in Brazil Has Generated Millions?
Two Brazilian football clubs are being investigated for holding a “ghost game” in Brazil during the lockdown in which millions of pounds gambled on it. Despite claims, the players never actually took to the pitch.
An amount of £1.4million bets were generated for the so-called “training match.” With over 200 sports wagering bookmakers around the world in which the preliminary investigations showing the match having taken place.
The mystery match was a clash between Andraus Brasil in the town of Campo Largo, Parana, and Gremio Serrano, from Paraiba. The two clubs insist that the game went ahead at Andraus’ home facilities. Supposedly the game was on March 25 despite football having been suspended before the date due to the lockdown.
However, according to integrity analyst Matias Mendez, ghost games are games that simply were not played in the agreed way. These matches with false advertisements for bookmakers and gamblers to obtain a profit on the betting market.
Mendez works for an agency that monitors the websites of bookmakers in Uruguay. He also sends alerts to the bookmakers if a match or sports betting odds and patterns are suspicious. He also said that there was no proof the game took place, but it did exist on gambling sites. Furthermore, the statistics and numbers from the game are not logical. But reports on some sports websites in Brazil having a result as a 2-1 away win for Gremio.
Marlus Dalledone, Andraus’ lawyer, insists the match did take place and promised to provide proof. He also claims that the game was organized so Andraus could scout players from Serrano. Serrano’s lawyer, Lucas Bezerra, said they played the match with players who were not theirs. It is because the team did not travel to Parana.
