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The Soccer Dispatch

🇧🇷 Botafogo are ready to make history after a refereeing scandal of their own making

The Rio de Janeiro club are on the brink of a Copa Libertadores/Brasileiro double!

Graham Ruthven's avatar
Graham Ruthven
Nov 28, 2024
∙ Paid

John Textor has a lot on his plate at the moment.

The American billionaire is currently having to deal with Lyon’s provisional relegation from Ligue 1 due to debts of over €500m. He is also trying to sell his stake in Crystal Palace after failing to purchase Everton.

However, Textor is having better luck in Brazil where he owns Botafogo. The Rio de Janeiro club face Atletico Mineiro in Saturday’s Copa Libertadores final and are closing in on their first Brasileiro title since 1995.

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This comes after Textor claimed match-fixing cost Botafogo the Brazilian championship last season - and following an expletive-ridden rant on live TV in which the American called referees corrupt.

Textor’s ownership has raised questions and even caused problems, but Fogo are just two games away from completing their greatest-ever season. Can they get over the line?

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