Flamengo President Criticizes Media Coverage Amid Women's Football Development Challenges

Luiz Eduardo Baptista, president of Flamengo, sparked controversy during a Deliberative Council meeting broadcast on Flamengo TV by directly criticizing journalist Renata Mendonça from TV Globo over her coverage of the club’s women's football program. Baptista highlighted the increasing audience for women's football, insisting it should receive media attention on par with men's and youth leagues, and lambasted TV Globo for insufficient investment in women's football broadcasting rights. He challenged the journalist to convince her network to substantially boost their financial support for women's games, stating that the channel profits from marketing packages without adequately sharing revenue with the clubs.

Despite Flamengo's record-breaking financial year in 2025, with revenues reaching R$ 2.1 billion—far exceeding prior forecasts—Baptista underscored ongoing structural and financial challenges facing the women’s football sector. While the club thrived in major competitions like the Brasileirão and Libertadores and secured a major sponsorship deal with Betano, the president emphasized equitable media representation and funding remain critical to advancing women's football. This tension highlights the broader difficulties clubs face in balancing resources and attention across men’s and women’s teams amid growing public interest in both.