Fifteen charged in Argentina over alleged match-fixing and betting fraud

Fifteen people linked to the Argentinian team Atenas de Río Cuarto have been charged in Córdoba over alleged sports betting fraud connected to a Federal A match.

The case began after irregular betting activity was detected during a match between Juventud Unida de San Luis and Atenas, prompting an alert from the Provincial Lottery. The accused include club executives, staff members, several players, and a provincial official from the provincial Sports Agency.

The provincial Cybercrime Prosecutor, Franco Pilnik, is following the investigation.

Among those charged is Brazilian player Uirá de Oliveira Marques, suspected of directly influencing the result. He reportedly scored two own goals, committed a handball that led to a penalty and later terminated his contract before leaving the country. An international arrest warrant has been issued for his detention.

The match in question ended 3–0 in favor of Juventud Unida, with two early own goals and a disputed penalty heightening suspicions. Investigators reported that several betting accounts linked to the case were recently created and associated with individuals from Río Cuarto.

Good to know: Villa Dálmine, a third-division club from Campana, Argentina, has also been involved in match-fixing allegations and declared it had no role in any manipulation of games

The authority froze related payouts and transferred the matter to judicial authorities.

Prosecutors also accused Nicolás Gauna, a provincial official, of placing bets through intermediaries and profiting from outcomes against his own team. The total gains from the alleged scheme are estimated at around ARS5m ($5,400)

All 15 defendants, including the club’s former president, have been summoned to give testimony. Authorities said the case could set a precedent in Argentina, marking one of the first times the judiciary has formally notified the Argentine Football Association (AFA) about a match suspected of manipulation through regulated betting platforms.

Carlos Mendez

Writer

Odds tell a story long before the result does. When bettors learn to read that story properly, betting becomes a matter of discipline and value rather than emotion or guesswork.

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