Brazilian referee Edilson Pereira de Carvalho admitted in a television interview on Sunday that he accepted money to influence the results of matches and said he had been corrupted.

Carvalho, who spent five days in police custody last week on allegations that he accepted money from an illegal gambling ring to fix results, said he had been seduced by the idea of earning easy money.

The interview came on the same day as a Brazilian sporting tribunal decided to annul the results of all 11 matches in which he officiated in this year's domestic championship.

The decision knocked Internacional, whose 3-2 win over Coritiba was refereed by Carvalho, off the top of the table, where they were replaced by Corinthians.

"I was corrupted, I allowed myself to get taken by this easy money," Carvalho told Globo television in an interview.

The official added: "I did it because I wanted to. I was seduced and I was wrong."

"I know that I am never going to referee another game again, whether it be a kick-around in the park or a professional match. I'm finished."

Also an international official, Carvalho was suspended on September 24 along with Paulo Jose Danelon, who refereed in the Brazilian second division and who has already admitted, through his lawyer, of fixing three games in exchange for money.

Both men face charges of fraud, conspiracy and crimes against the economy along with Nagib Fayad, a businessman alleged to be part of the gambling ring.

Carvalho, renowned for kissing his yellow cards and praying before the start of games, said he was first contacted last September and initially refused the offers.

However, in February, he said he changed his mind and helped America-Sao Jose to a 4-1 win over Palmeiras in the Paulista (Sao Paulo state) championship in return for 10,000 real ($4,400).

"There was a penalty for Palmeiras which I didn't give," he said. "I ignored it and I sinned."

Carvalho said he accepted the money because he had debts of around 40,000 real.

One week later, he accepted another bribe to help Corinthians beat Guarani.

Corinthians won 3-0 but Carvalho said he did not need to interfere.

"I didn't have to do anything and I got 10,000 real," he said.

Carvalho did not say how many of the 11 Brazilian championship games he had fixed but admitted that his first attempt, to help Juventude beat Figueirense, ended in failure.

Figueirense striker Edmundo scored a hat-trick in an outstanding performance to help his side win 4-1.

"I went into the game with the idea of helping Juvendute but they didn't get any help. Edmundo destroyed the game. He was the maestro of the match."

($1 = 2.227 real)

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