The scandal known as the “VaideBet Corinthians Case” involves suspicions of irregularities in a multimillion-dollar sponsorship contract with the betting company VaideBet and one of Brazil’s biggest football clubs, including the use of straw men, intermediaries suspected of being shell companies, and money laundering.
The investigations, conducted by the São Paulo Civil Police with support from the Public Prosecutor’s Office, point to possible crimes of criminal association, with contradictory testimonies among the main parties involved.
But it doesn’t stop there! After all, the VaideBet Corinthians Case resulted in the termination of the largest sponsorship contract in the club’s history, impeachment requests against president Augusto Melo, and a huge institutional crisis.
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VaideBet Corinthians Case: A Recap of What Happened
The VaideBet Corinthians Case began in January 2024, when Timão announced the signing of the largest main sponsorship contract in Brazilian football up to that point.
The agreement, made with the betting company VaideBet, provided for a transfer of over R$370 million to the club by the end of 2026, in monthly installments that would guarantee unprecedented financial stability to the club from Parque São Jorge.
As expected, the announcement was celebrated by both the board and the fans. However, just a few months after the contract was signed, signs of irregularities began to emerge in the process of brokering the deal.
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How did the agreement between VaideBet and Corinthians work?
According to club sources, the company Rede Social Media Design Ltda was the intermediary in the deal between the betting company VaideBet and Corinthians. So far, so good.
However, according to a report by journalist Juca Kfouri, part of the amounts paid to the intermediary was transferred to another company, Neoway Soluções Integradas em Serviços Ltda, identified as a shell company, whose partners claimed to have no knowledge of any relationship with Corinthians or the sponsorship contract.
The situation became even more serious when the press revealed, in May 2024, the existence of suspicious transfers to this company, which led VaideBet to send an extrajudicial notice to the club and, subsequently, to terminate the contract in June 2024, just five months after its signing.
The termination was motivated by the suspicion of the use of “straw men” in the agreement, which, being a betting company, would violate anti-corruption clauses in the contract and expose the club to reputational and legal risks.
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The Main Parties Involved: Executives, Intermediaries, and Companies
To understand the complexity of the VaideBet Corinthians Case, it is essential to identify the main individuals and entities involved in the scandal. At the epicenter of the investigations are Corinthians executives, businessmen, intermediaries, and companies suspected of participating in a scheme to divert funds.
Augusto Melo: the President of Timão
Augusto Melo, president of Corinthians since early 2024, has become the main target of investigations and internal and external criticism of the club.
Melo was directly responsible for negotiating the contract with VaideBet, having participated in meetings with representatives of the betting company and authorized the inclusion of the intermediary Rede Social Media Design in the agreement.
His active participation in the process, confirmed by statements from other executives, placed him under investigation by the Civil Police and led to impeachment requests from club council members who remain fervent.
In fact, the meeting to vote on the impeachment has been scheduled more than once, but was blocked by a series of injunctions, meaning the president remains in the case, but under heavy pressure.
Marcelo Mariano and Sérgio Moura: Former Directors
Marcelo Mariano, former administrative director of Corinthians, and Sérgio Moura, former marketing superintendent, are also under investigation for their direct involvement in negotiating and executing the contract.
According to the investigation, both participated in the initial meetings with VaideBet and were responsible for carrying out payments to the intermediary companies.
However, their statements to the Civil Police presented divergent versions of the facts, especially regarding the introduction of Alex Cassundé as the deal’s intermediary.
Alex Cassundé: The Intermediary
Alex Cassundé, owner of Rede Social Media Design Ltda, is identified as the intermediary responsible for enabling the contract between Corinthians and VaideBet. However, his involvement is surrounded by controversy: VaideBet’s own owner, José André da Rocha Neto, stated in testimony that he did not know Cassundé and said the agreement was made directly with club executives, without the need for intermediaries.
Cassundé, in turn, claimed to have met VaideBet through ChatGPT and not to have charged for the intermediation, stating that the R$25 million amount was offered by the club.
According to the police, Cassundé claimed to have met VaideBet through a question asked to ChatGPT, by asking: “tips on how to find a betting company.”
Shell Companies and “Straw Men”
The big issue in the VaideBet Corinthians case is the fact that Rede Social Media Design Ltda received from Corinthians amounts related to the intermediation commission and transferred part of these funds to Neoway Soluções Integradas em Serviços Ltda, a company registered in the name of Edna Oliveira dos Santos, who claimed to have no knowledge of any relationship with the club or the contract.
The suspicion that Neoway is a shell company used for money laundering and to conceal the final destination of the funds is one of the central points of the investigation.
The Investigation Process of the VaideBet Corinthians Case
The investigation of the VaideBet Corinthians Case moved past the stage of collecting statements on April 14 and 16, 2025, including testimonies from those involved: Marcelo Mariano, Sérgio Moura, and Augusto Melo, all as suspects.
The statements were marked by contradictions, especially regarding the introduction and role of Alex Cassundé as intermediary.
Meanwhile, VaideBet’s owner, José André da Rocha Neto, reaffirmed that he made the agreement directly with Corinthians executives.
This discrepancy is considered crucial by the authorities, as it may indicate the existence of a scheme to divert club funds under the pretext of a fictitious intermediation.
In addition to the testimonies, the Civil Police investigation is focused on analyzing documents, contracts, invoices, and bank statements to map the financial flow of the amounts paid by VaideBet to Corinthians and, subsequently, by the club to the intermediary companies.
The main line of investigation points to the diversion of part of the intermediation commission to shell companies, with subsequent money laundering and possible involvement of criminal organizations.
The inquiry is being conducted under seal, which limits public access to more specific details of the investigations. However, authorities have already indicated that the inquiry should be concluded between the end of April and the first week of May 2025, when it will be decided whether those involved will be indicted and the case forwarded to the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
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