Rio court bans Botafogo SAF from selling players | OneFootball

*By AFP

The Rio court prohibited Botafogo, on Thursday (29), from selling players and club assets amid the legal issues faced by its owner, American businessman John Textor, according to a ruling accessed by AFP.

The 2024 Brazilian and Libertadores champion is facing financial difficulties and legal disputes with Eagle Football Holding, a group of clubs to which it belongs, along with French Lyon and Belgian Molenbeek.

“Considering media reports regarding the hasty negotiation of athletes, I order, as a precautionary measure, the suspension of all acts related to sales and negotiation of assets and any other acts with economic implications,” states the decision by Judge Marcelo Almeida de Moraes Marinho, from the Rio de Janeiro Court of Justice.

Transfer ban

Since December 31, Botafogo has been banned by FIFA from signing new players due to outstanding debts related to the purchase of Argentine player Thiago Almada in 2024.

Almada currently plays for Atlético de Madrid.

Meanwhile, the club has been selling players. The most recent departure was Venezuelan midfielder Jefferson Savarino, who signed with Fluminense last week.

Before that, the club had already negotiated midfielder Marlon Freitas (to Palmeiras) and defender David Ricardo (to Dynamo Moscow) earlier this year.

The judge ordered Textor to inform, within 48 hours, “if he has conducted, intends to conduct, or is in the process of” any asset disposal or dividend distribution.

Botafogo, led by Argentine Martín Anselmi, debuts this Thursday in the 2026 Brasileirão against Cruzeiro. Last year, the club finished in sixth place under the command of Italian Davide Ancelotti, son of the Brazilian national team coach, Carlo Ancelotti.

Crisis at Eagle involves Lyon and affects Textor's management

The crisis at Eagle erupted due to debts incurred by Lyon, which almost resulted in the French club's relegation last season.

In a new escalation of tensions, Textor was removed this week from the position of director of the holding, according to sources close to the case informed AFP.

Criticized for his management at Lyon, the American businessman lost operational control of the French club in June 2025 to Ares, the fund that lent him 425 million euros (R$ 2.6 billion at the current exchange rate) to buy it in 2022. However, he retained control of Botafogo after a court decision.

Textor claims that the Brazilian club financed Lyon's losses, while Botafogo demands the payment of Eagle's debts.

The shares of the Rio club have been blocked since July 31 by a court decision that points to a “clear risk” of default by Eagle.

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