Corinthians President Ousted in Shocking Betting Scandal

Corinthians President Augusto Melo Ousted Amidst Betting Scandal São Paulo, Brazil – In a shocking turn of events, Corinthians president Augusto Melo has been removed from his position following accusations of serious financial irregularities. The scandal involves a substantial sponsorship deal with betting company Vai de Bet, where a police investigation revealed that over R$1 million was diverted to a prominent criminal organization in São Paulo. The investigation, concluded last Friday, detailed how the money was passed through an intermediary, Alex Cassundé, to various entities, some of which were shell corporations. This revelation led to the swift action by the Corinthians' Deliberative Council, which voted to remove Melo from his post. Melo, in a statement released Monday evening, confirmed his removal but denied resigning. 'I admit the deposition from the presidency,' Melo stated, 'but I will not resign.' The club's vice-president, Osmar Stabile, has assumed the role of interim president and called for an extraordinary assembly of club members to decide the fate of Melo's presidency. This vote will determine whether the impeachment is confirmed or not. The police investigation also indicted two former club directors alongside Melo and Cassundé on charges of embezzlement, criminal association, and money laundering. The upcoming assembly is expected to be highly contentious, with thousands of members set to participate. The event highlights the increasing scrutiny of financial dealings within major Brazilian sports organizations.