for early access to the latest igaming videos!
and get the latest igaming news first!
Executives from some of Brazil’s leading Serie A football clubs are discussing the possibility of suspending the Brasileirão as a way to pressure the federal government to reconsider its provisional measure banning betting operators in the country. According to Folha de S. Paulo, the proposal has emerged in recent conversations between club officials, although some executives reportedly consider the move an extreme option.
The Brazilian championship was last suspended between March and August 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The current discussions follow the provisional measure signed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, which prohibits fixed-odds betting operations and has raised concerns among clubs that have developed significant commercial relationships with betting companies.
Clubs Seek Transition Period and Financial Support
The possibility of suspending the league was discussed shortly before a government meeting with football clubs, organized through the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF). The meeting, scheduled for September 29, was canceled after clubs indicated they could boycott the event, making their absence an initial form of pressure on the government.
Alongside a possible suspension, clubs are seeking a transition period before betting operations are fully discontinued. Executives argue that an abrupt shutdown could affect not only their 2026 budgets but also financial commitments already planned for 2027. A government proposal for lower-interest credit has so far been considered insufficient by club officials.
Betting Sponsorships Have Become a Major Revenue Source
The financial stakes are significant for Brazilian football. According to a study by consultancy Convocados, betting companies collectively invested approximately R$1.03 billion in sponsorships of Serie A clubs in 2025, representing an increase of around 66% from the R$618 million invested in 2024.
The betting sector has therefore become a major source of commercial revenue for Brazil’s top-flight clubs. The potential loss of sponsorship agreements is adding pressure to discussions over how teams could replace those revenues and meet existing financial obligations following the government’s decision.
Lula Defends Ending Betting Operations
President Lula reiterated his support for ending betting operations in Brazil on September 28, while attending the signing of legislation establishing guidelines for the development of women’s football. He argued that the prohibition would not harm Brazilian football.
“The fact that we have ended betting does not bring any harm to football,” Lula said, adding that “the greatest moments in the history of Brazilian football did not have betting.”
CBF Faces Pressure to Take a Position
The possible league suspension is also putting pressure on the CBF, which clubs are asking to take a more active position in the debate. The confederation has so far declined to comment on the provisional measure, maintaining that position when contacted again on September 29.
The CBF was previously approached by the federal government to mediate discussions with clubs from Brazil’s Serie A, B, C and D divisions. The organization is also directly affected by the measure because it has a commercial agreement with betting operator Betano.
The debate comes as the CBF’s current leadership includes officials with connections to Brazilian politics. Among its eight vice presidents is Gustavo Dias Henrique, who is involved in the organization’s political affairs and is first alternate to Senator Renan Calheiros in Alagoas. Francisco Schertel Mendes, another influential figure in the current administration, is vice president of the Mato Grosso Football Federation and a member of the CBF assembly.
Source: BNL Data
