CBF Unveils Fair Play Financeiro Model Amidst Major Broadcasting Funds Dispute in Brazilian Football
CBF announces the Fair Play Financeiro financial sustainability model for Brazilian football alongside a pivotal court ruling easing blocked broadcasting funds dispute between Flamengo and Libra clubs.
- • CBF released the first version of the Fair Play Financeiro model on November 11, with final adoption planned for January 2026.
- • The model introduces salary caps and accountability for overdue debts to promote financial balance among clubs.
- • A judge lifted a R$ 63 million blocking injunction favoring Flamengo, easing funds distribution to Libra clubs.
- • The dispute centers on broadcasting rights allocations, with Flamengo contesting Libra’s viewership-based distribution model.
- • Stakeholders are invited to submit feedback on the Fair Play Financeiro draft until November 14, with the final version due by November 26.
Key details
The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) announced on November 11 the first version of the Fair Play Financeiro model aimed at improving financial sustainability across Brazilian football clubs. Developed with input from 77 clubs and federations over three months, the initiative encourages control over overdue debts, operational balance, and prudent financial management. The model includes regulatory measures such as salary caps and mandates financial balance during transfer windows. It is slated to start in January 2026, with stakeholders able to submit suggestions until November 14 and the final version expected by November 26. CBF executive director Helder Melilo highlighted the collaborative process, noting that around 80% of stakeholder contributions were integrated into the draft. Grêmio president Alberto Guerra praised the model’s promise for promoting responsible economic growth in Brazilian football.
Meanwhile, a significant legal development unfolded on the financial front related to broadcasting rights distribution within the Brazilian football league Libra. On October 11, Judge Lúcia Helena do Passo from the 11th Chamber of Private Law lifted a prior injunction blocking R$ 63 million in funds favoring Flamengo, allowing this money to be distributed to other clubs in Libra such as Atlético-MG, Bahia, Red Bull Bragantino, Grêmio, Palmeiras, Santos, São Paulo, and Vitória. Only R$ 17 million remains frozen. The conflict originates from Flamengo’s demand for R$ 77.1 million from broadcaster Globo for the second installment of 2024 Brasileirão broadcasting rights, in opposition to Libra’s collective distribution model based partly on match viewership.
Libra’s distribution allocates 40% of funds equally to all top-division clubs, 30% based on sporting results, and 30% according to viewership, but Flamengo disputes the definition of viewership criteria and proposes distribution linked to pay-per-view registrations. Despite Flamengo’s push for a meeting to resolve the issue—which was only supported by Volta Redonda—the dispute escalated legally. Judge Lúcia questioned Flamengo’s late presentation of calculations and noted that Flamengo was part of the Libra group that approved the distribution criteria, questioning the basis of its claims. The legal ruling emphasized that the four-year contract with Globo mitigates the need to keep funds fully blocked, positively impacting the league clubs who rely on these payments.
Together, these developments underscore key financial governance challenges facing Brazilian football: the need for sustainable financial models and transparent, equitable distribution of substantial broadcasting revenues. The new Fair Play Financeiro framework aims to impose discipline on clubs' financial practices, while the ongoing legal dispute illustrates tensions around revenue sharing in a sector undergoing modernization.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.