São Paulo FC Faces Crisis with Fourth Straight Defeat and Proposed Structural Changes

São Paulo FC is in the midst of a troubling decline, having lost its fourth consecutive match, falling 1-0 to Ceará at Morumbi Stadium during the 25th round of the Campeonato Brasileiro. This defeat has amplified scrutiny on the head coach Hernán Crespo and raised concerns about the club's direction following their recent elimination from the Libertadores quarter-finals. Pedro Henrique’s goal was enough to secure the victory for Ceará, thrusting them into 11th place, while São Paulo clings to 7th spot, just one point ahead of Fluminense, who have two games in hand, intensifying the pressure to secure a Libertadores spot for next year.

The atmosphere surrounding the club has been charged, seen in the notably lower attendance at the match and visible fan protests against current management. Lucas Moura returned from injury but there were further complications as Rafael Tolói was forced off due to a muscle issue. Meanwhile, in the same league round, Flamengo beat Corinthians 2-1, keeping the pressure on São Paulo with Flamengo leading the league standings with 54 points.

In response to the poor performance, Julio Casares, the club president, has proposed a sharp organizational change, suggesting a formal separation between the football operations and the social aspects of the club. Casares has commissioned a study to create this legal and administrative split, aiming to manage the football department independently and mimicking the Sociedade Anônima do Futebol (SAF) model used by other clubs. This comes amidst financial pressures, though the social club remains financially stable with a reported surplus for 2024. Despite this, Casares faces significant criticism and protests from fans discontented with the team's trajectory and management decisions, as he seeks a legacy of improvement before the end of his term in 2026.