CBF plans fewer night matches, see kick-off options | OneFootball

CBF study found public dissatisfaction with night games

Flamengo take the field this Tuesday (26) at 9:30 p.m. (Brasília time) against Cusco (PER) in the Libertadores. If it is up to the CBF, this kickoff time for matches is living on borrowed time. That is because the governing body intends to put an end to such late midweek games, as well as matches on Saturdays and Sundays.

According to a survey commissioned by the CBF, violence is a concern for fans, keeping them from attending stadiums. So, the Confederation wants to do away with the 9:30 p.m. midweek slot and the 8 p.m. slot on weekends. On the other hand, 7 p.m. matches on weekdays are also seen as unfavorable because of people leaving work and traffic congestion in big cities.

Sunday morning matches at 11 a.m., meanwhile, are expected to become more common in the near future. Everything will depend on talks with the television rights holders, whose preferred time slots are 4 p.m. on Sundays and 9:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, whether for domestic or international competitions in Brazil.

WHAT ARE THE SURVEY NUMBERS?

The CBF survey showed that 35% of fans have stopped going to stadiums out of fear of violence or lack of safety. In addition, 74% do not consider football matches safe for bringing more vulnerable family members, such as children and the elderly.

WHERE DID THE TOPIC RESURFACE?

The topic is not new and is one of the government plans of current CBF president Samir Xaud. However, the issue resurfaced this Monday (25) during a debate held between Série A and Série B clubs, together with the Confederation, in talks over the creation of a new league. The discussion was led by the president of the Ceará State Football Federation, Mauro Carmélio Neto.

The issue of kickoff times, together with the need for security and access control, monitoring of cases in the regular courts, player protection, and stronger action by the STJD, is part of the package being called the “anti-violence commission.” It is worth noting that no changes in this regard are expected for 2026.

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