Crystal Palace shareholder John Textor is currently the subject of a rather large controversy in Brazil.
That’s because he believes his club Botafogo has been harmed by referees with bad intentions, and now claims he has proof that there’s corruption in the local league.
Textor is today quoted by Globo Esporte talking about the situation. There, he made it clear he has evidence that officials are getting paid to change results.
“Someone saying that there’s no corruption in Brazil when I have referees on tape complaining about not having their bribes paid? Maybe the CBF shouldn’t sue me. I didn’t accuse Ednaldo (Rodrigues, president of the CBF).
“I never said anything about him. He’s not corrupt. He’s a man who runs an organisation that probably needs to manage external corruption better. Because it’s a battle against external factors. It’s a battle that exists and is here. There were manipulations and mistakes in 2021, 2022, 2023, and we have proof.”
That’s why part of the local media want him to either show the evidence he claims to have or stop talking about it.
This is the case of Sportv pundits André Loffredo and Luiz Teixeira, who are quoted by Fogão Net about the situation. He made it clear that Textor’s accusations are very much serious.
“After that, either he presents evidence and shakes up Brazilian football, or he takes the team out of national competitions or leaves the country. There are only three ways out. If he doesn’t provide proof, there’s no point in continuing to play in competitions,” said Loffredo.
“And he’s criminally liable for that. Because you’re making a serious accusation. He can’t leave without presenting evidence,” concluded Teixeira.
Since Textor is a major owner of Botafogo, he shows up in the Brazilian media much more often than he does to talk about Crystal Palace, and fans of the Eagles can now have an idea of how could it be if that was the other way around.
