Women's football law imposes new rules on clubs and SAFs | OneFootball

Women’s football has gained new rules in Brazil. Lula signed Law No. 15,522, which sets guidelines for the sport and responsibilities for clubs, the CBF, and public authorities. The change comes less than a year before the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

RTI Esporte Agency has learned that the main impact on clubs will be in player development. Training organizations will also be required to maintain a women’s team. The law guarantees women’s football the same rights and benefits as men’s youth development.

In practice, the new legislation expands the obligations of clubs that maintain youth development categories and places women’s football within a permanent national policy for the development of the sport.

Player development now has new requirements

The law also establishes measures to expand the professionalization of the sport. The text provides for a gradual reduction in the presence of non-professional athletes in the main national competitions, in addition to actions aimed at developing new players.

The Ministry of Sport will have direct involvement in this process. Its responsibilities include encouraging girls’ participation in football, strengthening youth competitions, and supporting the creation and maintenance of professional and youth teams.

Another front involves women’s participation off the pitch. The legislation provides for measures to increase the presence of women in refereeing, management, coaching, and other football-related roles.

SAFs will face a new requirement

The change also directly affects Football Corporations. Under the new legislation, a club that chooses the SAF model must develop male and female players, or it may maintain a structure focused exclusively on the development of female players.

The amendment creates legal backing for business structures dedicated exclusively to women’s football. As a result, player development in the sport now has specific provisions within the legislation that regulates SAFs.

Protection for women becomes part of the law

The law provides for measures against racism, discrimination, prejudice, and violence against women in football. Responsibility will be shared among the Ministry of Sport, the CBF, and clubs. Protocols will be required to protect players, female referees, coaches, fans, and professionals.

The signing comes during preparations for the 2027 Women’s World Cup. The tournament will be held between June 24 and July 25 in eight Brazilian cities: Belo Horizonte, Brasília, Fortaleza, Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, and São Paulo.

The legislation provides for the drafting of a social, sporting, and financial legacy plan for the Women’s World Cup. The proposal is to establish actions that will remain in place after the competition ends.

The bill was sent by the Executive Branch to the National Congress in September last year and completed its legislative process in September 2026, with approval by the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate before presidential sanction.

With the new law, training clubs and new SAFs now have specific rules related to women’s football. Adapting youth structures, player development, and the creation of teams will be among the first practical effects of the legislation.

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