Public Ministry investigates UFC São Paulo accounts; suspension of the event is not considered

The Public Ministry of the State of São Paulo published a note today on its official website informing the opening of a civil inquiry to investigate city hall spending on the UFC Sao Paulo. The text (which you can read HERE) states that the objective of the action is “to investigate possible irregularities and damage to public coffers with the contract for the sponsorship, by the City of São Paulo, of the UFC Brasil 2013 fights”. Contrary to what has been reported, the wording of the SUPER FIGHTS found out from the MP-SP that suspending the event is not an option. The recommendation is that the sponsorship contract between São Paulo City Hall and the Ultimate organization be suspended. However, given the proximity to the event and the time required for investigations, it is unlikely that the suggestion will be accepted.

The Public Ministry gave 10 days for the current mayor of São Paulo, Fernando Haddad, and the Sports Secretariat to send information about the legal status of the contract, signed during the administration of Gilberto Kassab. The former mayor, as well as his sports secretary and the contracted company, IMX Esportes e Entretenimento, were also summoned to provide clarifications. According to the investigation, initiated by Public Prosecutor Valter Foleto Santin, the amounts spent on the sponsorship contract with the UFC correspond to more than 70% of the annual budget allocated to the sports secretariat, equivalent to approximately R$2,5 million. The promoter classified the sponsorship as “unnecessary, abusive and excessive expenditure of public resources on non-Olympic activities”.

O UFC Sao Paulo will take place next Saturday, January 19th, at the Ibirapuera Gymnasium. The main fight will be between middleweights Vitor belfort e Michael Bisping. The event will be the sixth held by Ultimate in Brazil and the second in the city of São Paulo, which already hosted the edition known as 17.5, in October 1998. On this occasion, Belfort was also part of the event card. He won Wanderlei Silva by technical knockout, in a light heavyweight fight.

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