Palmeiras and São Paulo public security partnership records 35 child maintenance arrests at matches | OneFootball

Palmeiras' partnership with the Secretaria de Segurança Pública do Estado de São Paulo has led to 49 arrests at home matches since 2023 at Nubank Parque and Arena Crefisa Barueri. More than 70 percent of these, 35 in total, involved people wanted over unpaid child maintenance.

According to Globo.com, the club has applied facial biometrics to all tickets since 2023 and works with the SSP-SP through the Muralha Paulista programme to screen access and identify wanted individuals. Those flagged are stopped at the turnstiles and escorted by police.

Club president Leila Pereira said the collaboration is helping to keep supporters safe, enforce court decisions and uphold the rights of children and families who rely on maintenance.

Beyond maintenance cases, arrests have also included suspects sought for paedophilia and drug trafficking, including one incident involving a burning aircraft, 400kg of cocaine and a trafficker on the run for three years.

Three weeks ago Argentina announced a stadium ban for maintenance debtors, and Brazil soon followed by proposing similar steps in the Projeto de Lei 2581/2026, filed by federal deputy Sâmia Bonfim on 25 May. The bill awaits dispatch by the president of the Chamber of Deputies before assessment in committees including Constitution and Justice and Sport. It seeks a temporary prohibition on access to stadiums and sports events to compel payment.

Source: Globo.com