A renowned Brazilian footballer, Gabriel Barbosa, widely recognized as Gabigol, found himself caught in a law enforcement operation targeting an illicit gaming establishment in Rio de Janeiro.
The Flamengo forward was present at a gathering with an estimated 200 individuals in the Vila Olímpia district when authorities entered the premises. Visual documentation of the operation reveals Gabigol being accompanied out of the structure and into a police vehicle.
Law enforcement disseminated recordings demonstrating the venue’s disregard for COVID-19 safety measures. While attendees were permitted to leave after providing written consent to appear at the police station subsequently, the individual responsible for the establishment’s management, along with the event coordinator, will face accusations of unlawful gaming activities, offenses against public well-being, and contravening pandemic-related limitations.
Eduardo Brotero, a high-ranking police official, disclosed that a specialized unit tasked with addressing clandestine gatherings received information about the assembly but unexpectedly uncovered an unauthorized casino.
Gabigol was absent from his team’s 1-0 defeat against Fluminense on the preceding Sunday evening.
Brazil is presently grappling with one of the most severe COVID-19 outbreaks globally and holds the position of the nation with the second-highest fatality count. The virus has claimed the lives of over 270,000 individuals in Brazil.
