CBF responds to Flamengo after request to postpone Brasileirão match

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·23. Mai 2026

CBF responds to Flamengo after request to postpone Brasileirão match

Flamengo issued an official statement earlier about the postponement of the match against Coritiba, on the 30th

The atmosphere behind the scenes this Saturday (23), ahead of the match between Flamengo and Palmeiras, remains heated. After the Rubro-Negro side issued an official statement criticizing the Brazilian Football Confederation’s (CBF) decision not to postpone the Brasileirão match, the federation responded through a statement.

WHAT DID THE CBF’S OFFICIAL STATEMENT SAY?

“Regarding Flamengo’s public statement released today, in which the club questions the decision to keep the dates of the 18th round of the 2026 Brazilian Championship, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) would like to clarify the following: 1. The mandatory release date for players for the 2026 World Cup was defined by FIFA back in May 2025, and this information was reiterated in different official documents and communications. 2. The 2026 Brazilian football calendar was presented, discussed, and unanimously approved by all Série A clubs in December 2025. The round dates, including the 18th round, as well as the break period for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, were widely discussed in the competition’s Technical Council, with the participation of all clubs. The CBF does not impose a calendar on clubs: it implements the one built and validated jointly with the teams. 3. At none of these moments did Flamengo suggest postponing or changing the 18th round. This only happened after Flamengo’s elimination from the Copa do Brasil, when the club began suggesting that the Flamengo vs. Coritiba match be rescheduled for a date reserved for the Copa do Brasil in the second half of the year. This request was rejected because it would serve only the interests of one club affected by call-ups: Flamengo itself. 4. The current CBF administration does not believe in and will not support any kind of privileged treatment in sports, regardless of fan base size or economic power. Several clubs were affected by World Cup call-ups, and any solution designed to address only one isolated case would represent a direct violation of the principle of sporting equality that guides the current CBF administration. 5. The 2026 Brazilian football calendar brought clear improvements, such as the reduction of State Championships and the start of the Brazilian Championship in January. The CBF reaffirms its commitment to working toward the continued improvement of the calendar and the creation of a balanced competitive environment through structural and collective solutions, not one-off decisions that benefit specific interests. 6. Finally, the CBF reiterates its unrestricted support for the creation of a league run by the clubs, founded on equal treatment among competition participants and respect for previously agreed rules. The success of the league project depends on each club respecting throughout the competition the decisions approved by everyone before the start of the championship, rather than seeking exclusive solutions that grant privileged treatment depending on the circumstances.”

WHAT IS THE CONTEXT OF THE STATEMENT?

Flamengo issued a statement this Saturday (23) criticizing the CBF’s decision. The Rubro-Negro team requested the postponement of the match against Coritiba, scheduled for May 30 at the Maracanã, during the FIFA international window.

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This is because Flamengo has four players called up to the Brazil national team: Danilo, Alex Sandro, Léo Pereira and Lucas Paquetá. In addition, Brazil takes the field one day after the match against Coritiba. In other words, Mengão would be without those players for the Brasileirão clash.

However, the CBF denied Flamengo’s request. According to the federation, the calendar was presented before the start of the competition. Therefore, the clubs voted in favor of the CBF’s proposal.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.