Corinthians suffer court setback in Dualib granddaughter's case | OneFootball

Corinthians suffered a defeat in the São Paulo courts in a case involving commercial contracts signed more than two decades ago. The 29th Private Law Chamber recognized Carla Dualib’s right, granddaughter of former president Alberto Dualib, to receive commissions related to sponsorship deals negotiated during the period known as the “MSI Era.”

The decision was issued in a ruling on August 26. According to information published by ESPN, the case has not yet reached the final amount the club will have to pay. Corinthians itself, however, had already recorded an estimate of nearly R$ 32 million as a possible loss related to the lawsuit. There is still the possibility of appeals to higher courts.

Photo: José Manoel Idalgo/Agência Corinthians

Court recognizes validity of contract

The dispute involves a service agreement signed between Corinthians and SMA (Sports Agency Marketing), Carla Dualib’s company. The deal was in effect from 2003 to 2006, when Alberto Dualib was club president.

According to ESPN, the court upheld the validity of the contract and recognized the company’s rights to commissions from certain commercial deals. Among the points analyzed, the court ordered a Samsung sponsorship to be included in the calculations, while excluding Pepsi’s participation.

Compensation related to the breach of an exclusivity clause was also limited to lost profits.

Another aspect recognized by the appellate judges involves commissions after the contract’s initial three-year term. This right, however, depends on proof that Carla actually continued managing and maintaining licensing, franchise, and sponsorship contracts, or that she was unjustifiably prevented by Corinthians from performing those duties.

Final amount still to be calculated

Despite the decision going against Corinthians, it is still not possible to say that the club will have to pay exactly R$ 31.9 million.

The case will move into the judgment enforcement calculation phase, the stage in which the amount actually owed will be determined based on the criteria set by the court.

According to ESPN, Corinthians itself had included in its Centralized Enforcement Regime (RCE) a “probable loss” of R$ 31,984,075.79 related to Carla Dualib’s case. The information had been revealed by the broadcaster in March of this year.

That amount, therefore, represents an estimate recorded by the club and not the final amount established by the latest ruling.

The claim under judicial discussion has already reached significantly higher levels. With interest and monetary adjustment accumulated over the years, the amount sought by the company could exceed R$ 200 million.

Case dates back to Alberto Dualib’s administration

The dispute originated in the final years of Alberto Dualib’s administration at Corinthians. The contract signed with the company owned by his granddaughter was highly controversial at the time, mainly because of the family relationship between the parties.

Corinthians stopped paying certain commissions because it considered the agreement harmful to the club and established in a context of nepotism. Carla Dualib, on the other hand, argues that Timão breached contractual obligations that guaranteed SMA exclusivity in the marketing department’s commercial negotiations.

Among the contracts that became part of the dispute are deals involving brands such as Samsung and Nike.

MSI’s arrival at Parque São Jorge also became a central point of the dispute. The partnership changed the administrative and commercial structure of Corinthians football, while SMA claimed that the exclusivity rights provided for in its contract began to be disregarded.

In the arguments presented throughout the case, Corinthians challenged the validity of those terms and argued, among other points, that Alberto Dualib had allegedly benefited from the deal and that an exclusivity clause could not continue binding the club after his administration.

Corinthians had previously obtained favorable rulings

The legal dispute went through different stages over the years. In earlier instances, Corinthians had managed to obtain favorable rulings.

The situation changed in May 2025, when a new judgment found some of the company’s claims valid and ordered the club to pay R$ 8,645,285.20. That amount would still be subject to interest and monetary adjustment.

Now, the ruling by the 29th Private Law Chamber keeps points favorable to Carla Dualib’s company and moves the case into a new stage of financial definition.

The decision comes at a time of economic difficulties for Corinthians, which is trying to reorganize its finances and manage various legal and financial obligations. In the case involving SMA, however, the exact size of the impact on the club’s coffers will depend on the judgment enforcement calculation phase and any appeals that may still be filed.

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