The end of Brazilian football

Football closely follows discussions about Brazil's betting market and acknowledges the challenges its expansion brings. The social impacts, particularly on vulnerable populations, demand sustained attention from public authorities, companies and all sectors involved.

That is why it is fundamental to strengthen protection, oversight, education and prevention measures in order to reduce risks and ensure a responsible market.

Brazil chose to face this challenge through regulation. The regulatory framework established strict rules for authorized companies operating in the country, with clear guidelines that allow the State to supervise the market, hold violators accountable and combat illegal platforms.

It is important to note that in recent years, investment from authorized betting companies has become one of sport's main revenue streams. This investment has propelled Brazilian football to such an extent that it dominates South American competition in tournaments such as CONMEBOL Libertadores and CONMEBOL Copa Sudamericana, positioning Brazilian clubs as key players in the region.

This presence is not limited to the largest clubs. Resources also reach smaller teams, lower divisions and competitions with less commercial exposure. For many of these associations, particularly those based in inland regions, no other economic segment currently exists that could immediately replace this investment.

These revenues are crucial for maintaining administrative structures, training facilities, professional staff, social projects and departments that do not generate sufficient resources to sustain themselves independently, including a large part of women's football and youth development—the first areas threatened when revenue drops sharply.

Thus, rumours of abrupt changes to betting market regulation have generated significant concern across all clubs, federations and sports administration bodies. A sudden change in the rules would reduce clubs' investment capacity and create imbalances both domestically and internationally. Contracts regularly signed, multi-year planning and financial commitments were established under a regulatory framework built by the State itself.

In response to a market that already existed and moved billions of reals illegally, the country established a regulated environment. Companies were authorized, began paying taxes and assumed obligations related to consumer protection, age verification, prevention of abusive practices and combating money laundering and match-fixing. It was precisely the regulation of the market that removed Brazil from the top of the global ranking for match-fixing cases.

Disabling this model will not make betting disappear. It will simply open the door for consumers to migrate entirely to illegal platforms, which do not pay taxes, do not respect limits, do not offer protection mechanisms and do not cooperate with authorities.

The consequence will not only be a wide-open path for illegal betting, but a fatal blow to Brazilian football, leading many clubs to insolvency. This without mentioning the legal and professional uncertainty that such a measure would create, particularly for contracts regularly signed and planning built under the regulatory framework approved by Congress and established by the State.

What football understands must be done, with the utmost rigour, is to combat illegality, strengthen oversight and improve protection mechanisms, without jeopardizing a market that was regulated by the State itself.

Football places itself at the disposal of the Federal Government, Congress, and State and Municipal Authorities to collaborate on more efficient education and awareness mechanisms.

Football is mobilized, acknowledges its responsibilities and wants to participate in the solution in a rational and conscious manner.

THE FAN CANNOT PAY THIS PRICE.

IF YOU END THE REGULATED MARKET, BETTING DOES NOT END.

FOOTBALL IS WHAT ENDS.