Potential Everton owner, and current Crystal Palace shareholder John Textor, has won a legal battle in Brazil over his claims regarding alleged corruption in Brazilian football.
Textor is currently embroiled in a legal battle in Brazil, where his company own Botafogo, after he made allegations of corruption last year.
Various legal cases have been brought as a result of his claims, including one presented by referee Rafael Traci, who had tried to censor the American businessman from talking about the case and his allegations.
However, that case was today rejected by judge Bruna Richa Cavalcanti de Albuquerque of the 4t Civil Court of Curitiba.
He rejected the move from the referee, who had requested that Textor delete posts from his social nmedia that complained of match manipulation. He also wanted Textor barred from mentioning Traci’s name in future statements.
The judge instead accepted the Crystal Palace shareholder and potential Everton owner’s, argument that freedom of speech must prevail. The American’s lawyers had argued that blocking him from speaking would lead to censorship and the judge agreed.
Textor was left furious following Botafogo’s defeat to Palmeiras last year, which saw his side lose 4-3 in a crucial clash against their title challengers thanks to an injury time winner.
Botafogo had been leading the game comfortably 3-1 before a red card, which came following a length VAR check, turned the game against them.
This led to Textor making allegations of corruption after the game on live TV. Textor was later denounced by the Superior Tribunal de Justiça Desportiva for bad faith litigation and false accusation of crime and ordered to present evidence to support his claims to authorities.
The American businessman later brought extensive material to support his claims to the attention of the Federal Senate (CPI) and the Public Ministry and the Superior Court of Sports Justice (STJD).
CPI senators have since considered the matter as “serious”, and that there may be “strong signs” that there has been manipulation of results in the documents presented. The case is ongoing.
This victory against Traci’s efforts will be seen as a major win for Textor, who has already been in Brasília, the federal capital, to deal with the topic this month.
He’s expected to be in Brazil again in the coming weeks to deal with his allegations as he seeks progress in the investigations.
How this affects his affairs in England, remains to be seen. The American is attempting to sell his shares in Crystal Palace so he can complete a takeover at Everton.
He has already entered into a period of exclusivity with Farhad Moshiri regarding a takeover at Goodison Park after the Friedkin Group withdrew their interest earlier this year.
The Toffees would replace Crystal Palace in his company, Eagle Holdings’ ever expanding football network which includes Lyon, Botafogo, RWD Molenbeek and FC Florida also.
