Serie B chief backs CBF cut to foreigners, backs Flamengo: “Must complain” | OneFootball

Limit on foreign players listed per team will drop to five in 2030

The decision by teams in Brazil’s Série A and Série B to reduce the limit on foreign players in Brazilian football continues to generate debate. Atlético-GO president Adson Batista praised the CBF for the decision, but said Flamengo is right to complain.

— I think the CBF is absolutely right, because we are taking space away from Brazilian players. We need to develop players. Will we pay a price for it? Maybe the level could even drop a little, but in the medium and long term, Brazilian football is the one that will benefit from this. As for foreign players, the problem is that we are an emerging club,” he said, before concluding:

— I’m not going to do the obvious thing and invest a lot of money the way Flamengo does. Flamengo really does have to complain, because it has endless money, buys whoever it wants and, naturally, will lose a bit of opportunity. But, on the other hand, Flamengo will also be able to invest in Brazilian football and keep that money here in Brazil. So I see this in a very positive way,” concluded the Atlético-GO president.

What is Flamengo’s position?

In an exclusive interview with reporter Mônica Alves of Coluna do Fla, football director José Boto blasted the CBF’s measure. That is because, in the Flamengo executive’s view, the change will weaken the Brasileirão in the long term.

How will the number of foreign players change?

Starting in the 2027 season, each team will be allowed to register up to eight foreign players in its squad. In this way, the number will continue to decline year after year until 2030. Thus, by the final deadline set by the new rule, four years from now, clubs will be allowed to have only five players from outside Brazil.

It is worth noting that Flamengo, Bahia and Londrina were the clubs that voted against the change. Aside from them, all teams in the top divisions of Brazilian football supported the new rule.

Who are the foreign players in Flamengo’s squad?

Flamengo currently has ten foreign players in its first-team squad. They are: Arrascaeta, Varela, De La Cruz, Erick Pulgar, Rossi, Saúl Ñíguez, Plata, Carrascal, Anthony Valencia and Joaquín Freitas.

It is worth noting, however, that Arrascaeta, Guillermo Varela and Erick Pulgar can begin the process of becoming naturalized citizens. That is because the players have had continuous and uninterrupted residence in the country for at least four years.

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