Clubs threaten to halt the Brasileirão after betting suspension | OneFootball

Executives want a six-month to one-year transition for the end of betting company advertising and are trying to bring the CBF onto the offensive

Executives from Brazilian clubs have begun discussing stopping the Brasileirão in reaction to the provisional measure that banned betting companies in the country. According to Estadão, the idea is still under debate and is being used as a pressure tactic against the Federal Government.

The main goal is to secure from the government a transition period of six months to one year for the end of betting company advertising. In addition, the clubs want to use the threat to obtain measures beyond the low-interest credit line negotiated before the provisional measure.

The effort is also aimed at the CBF. The executives want the confederation standing with the clubs in applying pressure. For that reason, they interpreted as an important sign the move by Sinafut, which asked to take part in the case against the provisional measure at the Supreme Federal Court (STF).

Sinafut takes transition request to the STF

The National Union of Professional Football Associations (Sinafut), which represents clubs and federations, filed the request this Monday (28). The entity wants to join the cases being reported by Justice Luiz Fux against Provisional Measure 1,394/2026.

In the petition, the union asks for the suspension of the provisional measure until Congress deliberates or the STF rules on the cases. If that does not happen, it requests an extension of all deadlines by at least six months.

As an additional alternative, Sinafut proposes a transition until December 31, 2026, for professional football contracts. The request includes sponsorship, advertising, naming rights, broadcasting, and licensing.

The executives’ reading of the CBF has a concrete basis. Sinafut’s board includes two vice presidents of the confederation, who head the federations of Amazonas and Pará. In addition, the CBF itself sold the naming rights of the Brazilian Championship to Betano.

The union also argues that the provisional measure revoked mechanisms to combat match-fixing that were provided for in the 2023 law. Among them were reporting signs to the authorities and the precautionary suspension of betting on suspicious events.

October 5 deadline puts pressure on clubs

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed the provisional measure on Friday (25), in São Paulo. Since then, clubs have been unable to sign new advertising contracts with betting companies. Under the Finance Ministry’s rules, brands and advertising materials must be removed from circulation by October 5.

For Sinafut, the date falls in the final stretch of national competitions, when brand exposure reaches its peak. At the same time, clubs are now finalizing their 2027 budgets and those for the state championships, which begin in January.

The impact reaches much of the top flight. Currently, 14 of the 20 Série A clubs display betting companies as their main sponsors. According to the petition, the sector injected about R$1.14 billion into top-flight clubs in 2025, equivalent to 7.9% of their combined revenue.

Credit line runs into BNDES roadblock

The threat of a stoppage would also serve to broaden the compensation agenda. So far, the main alternative under discussion was a low-interest credit line. However, the BNDES denied taking part in any discussion about financing for clubs. In a statement, the bank cited a statutory prohibition on this type of operation.

The government, in turn, planned to gather executives to assess the damage caused by the provisional measure. The Ministry of Sport had even called clubs and federations to a meeting this Tuesday (29). However, the ministry postponed the meeting, which still has no new date.

Flamengo projects a R$400 million impact

Flamengo is among the most exposed clubs. Betano pays R$268.5 million per season to the Rubro-Negro under a contract valid through the end of 2028. As Coluna do Fla reported, the sponsor has already informally signaled its intention to end the partnership.

President Luiz Eduardo Baptista, known as Bap, estimated the impact on the club’s revenue next year at R$400 million. In an interview with Metrópoles, he admitted that the board has no ready alternative:

At the STF, Fux can decide alone or take the case to the full court. Before that, the Office of the Attorney General (AGU) requested 72 hours to present its position. Besides Sinafut, betting sector entities such as ANJL and IBJR have already asked for the immediate suspension of the provisional measure. After that, the text will still need to pass through Congress to become law.

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