Dorival Júnior calls for fewer foreign players, warns Brazil will pay a very high price | OneFootball

Dorival Júnior has called for limits on foreign players in Brazil, warning the country will pay a very high price.

According to Globo.com, the Corinthians head coach referenced Italy and spoke after a 1-0 win over Athletico-PR in round two of the Brasileiro.

He said a bigger quota penalises a generation. League rules allow up to nine overseas players per match, with 131 foreigners registered in 2026. Corinthians have six, including Moroccan Zakaria Labyad, not yet eligible.

Asked about Arena da Baixada’s synthetic surface in Curitiba, he said that if the CBF authorises it there is nothing to debate, adding home teams gain a big advantage and the game is faster than on natural grass.

He backed Garro’s view that the turf harms the body. Neymar and Santos players had previously complained about the same pitch after their league defeat there.

Dorival said football’s leaders should act. He argued Brazil, as a tropical country, should keep quality natural pitches. He contrasted Europe’s long sunless spells with pristine surfaces, saying Brazil ought to reach that standard nationwide.

Italy missed the 2018 and 2022 World Cups and are in the play-offs for this year’s tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Corinthians now face Portuguesa in the Paulista quarter-finals, a single-leg at Canindé on Sunday at 20:30 Brasília time.

Source: Globo.com