In total, 34 football clubs in Brazil spoke out against the proposal that bans sponsorship from bookmakers in the sport. All teams are part of the Brazilian Football League (Libra) and Liga Forte União (LFU) groups.
In a joint official note, the teams criticized amendment 38-U, by senator Eduardo Girão (Novo-CE), included in the report of the Senate‘s Sports Commission (CEsp), approved last Wednesday, 8.
This measure determines the prohibition of sponsorship of “teams, individual athletes, former athletes, referees, members of professional and amateur technical committees of all sports, as well as championships organized by Olympic sports confederations, recognized and linked to the Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB), as well as the federations affiliated to them of all sports”
Therefore, all football teams in the country could lose their partnerships with bookmakers. Even though the proposal is processed simultaneously in the Economic Affairs Committee (CAE), the text may go to the House Plenary.
According to the clubs’ note, the complete veto on the insertion of the bookmaker brand does not correctly regulate the sport in Brazil.
Furthermore, if definitively approved, it will result in a negative impact on clubs that have brands in the sector as one of their main sources of revenue.
Check out the teams’ statement against the veto on bookmaker sponsorship
“The Brazilian football Clubs signatories here, through this note, demonstrate enormous concern regarding the Decision of the Federal Senate Sports Commission that approved amendment No. 38-U to Bill (PL) No. 3,626/ 2023, despite the votes against by the excellent Senators Romário and Leila Barros and the original rejection by the Rapporteur.
The aforementioned amendment promotes changes to article 17 of the aforementioned PL to prohibit any advertising related to fixed-odd betting from being carried out in sports arenas and/or through sponsorship of teams and championships, among others.
It is important to highlight that the correct address of advertising messages inherent to the betting sector as well as care for children and adolescents are extremely important topics for the signatory Clubs. Seeking to meet the concern of contributing to a healthy environment, they have acted proactively in the development, together with CONAR, of guidelines to be applicable to the market.
The complete ban suggested by the Sports Commission, however, in addition to being fruitless for its proposed purpose and deviating from the purpose of the law, which is to regulate the type of fixed-odd betting, would represent direct and irreparable damage to the main current source of revenue. of Brazilian football, in addition to the risk of interfering with existing contracts.
As a result, the Clubs request that the Economic Affairs Committee as well as the Plenary of this respectful Senate reject the harmful amendment No. 38-U to PL No. 3,626/2023, protecting Brazilian football, and the principles of free enterprise and freedom to contract.
Signatory Clubs
América Futebol Clube
Associação Chapecoense de Futebol
Atlético Clube Goianiense
Avaí Futebol Clube
Ceará Sporting Club
Centro Sportivo Alagoano
Club Athletico Paranaense
Clube Atlético Mineiro
Clube de Regatas Brasil
Criciúma Esporte Clube
Clube de Regatas do Flamengo
Cruzeiro Esporte Clube SAF
Cuiabá Esporte Clube
Esporte Clube Bahia
Esporte Clube Juventude
Figueirense Futebol Clube
Fluminense Futebol Clube
Fortaleza Esporte Clube
Goiás Esporte Clube
Grêmio Novorizontino
Guarani Futebol Clube
Ituano Futebol Clube
Paysandu Sport Club
SAF Botafogo
Sampaio Corrêa Futebol Clube
Santos Futebol Clube
São Paulo Futebol Clube
Palmeiras Sports Society
Sport Club Corinthians Paulista
Sport Club do Recife
Tombense Futebol Clube
Vasco da Gama SAF
Vila Nova Futebol Clube”
