Match-fixing scandal rocks MLS: Rapids’ Max Alves ‘suspended amid links to $9k payment’

Major League Soccer announced they have removed an unnamed player from team activities related to unlawful sports gambling.

This comes on the heels of reports out of Brazil that Colorado Rapids player Max Alves was one of a group of players under investigation for receiving payments from match fixers.

According to Brazilian paper O Globo (via the Denver Post), the manipulation grew to include a Rapids game. The report also suggests Alves tried recruiting former Houston Dynamo player Zeca into the scheme.

While the MLS statement did not specifically name an individual player, the statement was posted to social media around two hours after the Denver Post ran their article quoting O Globo.

‘Major League Soccer is aware of the reports regarding alleged involvement by a current player and a former player in connection with unlawful sports gambling,’ the statement read.

Reports out of Brazil say Colorado Rapids player Max Alves was paid in a match fixing scandal

Alves reportedly received the equivalent of around $12,000 from the syndicate 

‘The integrity of the game is critical to the league and MLS takes seriously these allegations and any contravention of the league’s integrity rules.

‘The current player has been removed from team activities pending an investigation into this matter, which will begin promptly.’

The Rapids also released a statement late Wednesday night, saying, ‘We are aware of the reports regarding a Colorado Rapids player in connection with unlawful sports gambling.

‘We take matters of this nature seriously and seek at all times to protect the integrity of the game.

‘The player has been removed from all team activities while MLS conducts an investigation into the matter.’

Alves has not been charged with a crime as the investigation is underway. However, authorities from Brazil’s Public Ministry in the state of Goias charged 16 people – including seven players. 

Per O Golbo’s reporting, Alves was paid 45,000 Brazilian Reais ($9,000) to take a yellow card in a game in September of 2022 against the LA Galaxy.

Max Alves was substituted on in the 64′ and by the 65′, he had been booked with a yellow card.

Alves also referred another Brazilian MLS player, Zeca, to the scheme but it’s not clear if the right back took part in any fixing while playing with the Houston Dynamo

Within a few days, messages show that Alves had been paid by the fixers and they had discussed an advance of more money.

In total, the report says that Alves received the equivalent of around $12,000 from the syndicate, according to a spreadsheet.

While Alves is currently the only player outside of Brazil implicated, messages show that he referred Zeca to the fixers – with a scheme set for MLS’s final day of the regular season in October of 2022.

Alves joined the Rapids from Brazilian side Flamengo in January of 2022 on a four year deal with an option for a fifth on a guaranteed salary of around $293,000.

It’s not clear if Zeca took part in the scheme while in Houston. He returned to Brazil, signing for new club Vitoria in 2023.