São Paulo face unprecedented CBF transfer ban over Novorizontino fee | OneFootball

The National Football Regulation and Sustainability Agency, the body of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) responsible for enforcing Financial Fair Play, has determined that São Paulo will have 45 days to fully settle a debt related to the signing of defensive midfielder Djhordney, agreed with Grêmio Novorizontino this season.

This is the first severe punishment imposed on a Série A club under the entity’s new financial responsibility guidelines.

If the financial issue is not resolved or settled within the established deadline, Tricolor will face a transfer ban. The sanction will prevent the club from registering new professional contracts, players for the youth divisions, and taking part in subsequent transfer windows.

Origin of the Complaint and Proceedings at the CBF

The imbroglio began in early July, after Grêmio Novorizontino formally filed a complaint with the CBF over the contract default:

Transaction details: The player’s transfer deal totaled R$ 1 million. At the time the inland club contacted the regulatory body, there was an outstanding balance of R$ 600,000.

Previous notices: Before taking the case to the CBF, Novorizontino had already sent three legal notices to the Morumbi club.

Rejected justification: When questioned by the regulatory agency, São Paulo acknowledged the debt but claimed temporary financial difficulties. The argument was rejected for not falling under the exceptions provided for in the Fair Play regulations.

Following the technical opinion, the judging panel ordered payment of the full debt, adjusted to R$ 1 million, plus a R$ 100,000 fine and late-payment interest of 1% per month on the overdue installments.

São Paulo’s Official Position

In an official statement sent to the press, São Paulo’s board said that president Harry Massis had already aligned the terms of an installment agreement directly with Novorizontino’s president before the body’s ruling:

“Before the agency’s decision was published, São Paulo Futebol Clube, through president Harry Massis, contacted Genilson Rocha, president of Grêmio Novorizontino, and arranged a payment agreement. The parties are awaiting alignment between the clubs’ legal departments to formalize the commitment,” the club’s official statement said.

If the formalization of the commitment is approved by the legal departments and ratified by the agency within the stipulated deadline, the transfer ban will automatically be canceled.

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