Casares ignored São Paulo FGoal warnings, risky deal backed by Dedé | OneFootball

Former president Julio Casares ignored at least three warning alerts about the company FGoal Marketing e Eventos made by São Paulo’s legal department during his administration. Even with the club warning about several issues with the brand and pointing out future risks to Tricolor, the then president had the backing of his supporters and signed a multimillion-dollar contract.

FGoal, which is now suing São Paulo for R$ 5 million, was reportedly introduced to the club through Mara Casares, former women’s and cultural director, and former social director Antonio Donizete Gonçalves, known as Dedé, according to a report by UOL this Tuesday (3).

The company was responsible for supplying food and beverages at Morumbi and also played a major role in social events, such as Carnival and the controversial Festa Junina.

At the time of negotiations, at the end of 2022, the Tricolor legal department pointed out FGoal’s lack of experience and market history, lack of financial and asset backing, and the possibility of damage to the club’s reputation. In at least three documents issued to previous boards, a high probability of significant negative impact for São Paulo was indicated, which was ignored by Julio Casares.

After Casares’s resignation, Harry Massis took over the presidency and promptly terminated the contract with the former food supplier, alleging that the company had made unauthorized withdrawals from the club’s accounts, amounting to around R$ 200,000. Still according to the portal, FGoal claims that all transactions were authorized during Casares’s administration as part of their service provision to São Paulo.

Back in November 2022, the initial analysis completed by those responsible at Tricolor indicated that FGoal was still a micro digital marketing company, which didn’t even have food and beverages among its business activities.

Lack of experience and expertise in the area was reported as one of several problems, and the deal was characterized as high risk for the club. The brand had no physical structure, client portfolio, or any record of employees, highlighting the initial risk.

See who gave the green light

After a second review, the high risk and rejection of the agreement were maintained by São Paulo’s legal department. Proof of the company’s service provision simply did not exist. That’s when Casares’s ally, Dedé, stepped in.

The then social director got involved in the discussion and vouched to the legal department for the quality of the brand’s services and had already approved and forwarded the company’s hiring.

“Considering the progress and analysis of the new contract for the F&B Operation for next year at Morumbi stadium, I would like to express my positive opinion regarding the service provision by FGOAL, as I am confident they will do their best for SPFC, since I have witnessed their work, from service, cleaning, and quality before the public, with dedication and the necessary conditions for excellent service,” said Dedé via email.

“Therefore, they will now provide their services as Concessionaire in the F&B Operation, from now on at Morumbi stadium, during Games, Shows, and the like, whose documents have already been certified and entered into the CONTRACTS system, with my approval, for which I request your assistance in forwarding for proper execution and for President Julio Casares’s signature,” he added.

Thus, despite all the warnings, Casares closed the deal in 2023, with the company taking over food and beverage management at São Paulo’s home games. By March of the following year, the contract would be renewed. Before that, the legal department once again reviewed the deal, for the third time, and again pointed out FGoal as high risk, citing issues such as lack of employees, tax liabilities in all the partners’ companies, and other problems.

Even the former Tricolor CEO, Márcio Carlomagno, was aware of the problematic report, giving his approval. Still, Julio Casares signed a new contract on May 17, 2024, granting the rights to operate food and beverages at Morumbi to the company until the end of 2029, which was annulled by Massis on February 5 of this year.

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