The president of São Paulo, Julio Casares, may resign from his position soon. This is because two of the club’s main organized fans, Independente and Dragões da Real, issued notes after irregular deposits into Casares’ personal accounts.
The amounts, which are around R$1.5 million, would have been credited between January 2023 and May 2025, according to reports from the Financial Activities Control Council (Coaf) obtained by UOL. According to the survey, this amount represented Casares’ main source of income during the period analyzed.
The president’s defense states that the resources have a “lawful and legitimate” origin and guarantees that all transactions are financially compatible.
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Details of the investigation into Julio Casares
According to the reports, deposits were made in low and fractional amounts, with records of up to 12 operations on the same day, which together totaled R$49,000. The limit for automatic notification to Coaf is R$50 thousand.
This type of practice falls under what Coaf classifies as “smurfing”, a technique used to divide larger amounts into small transactions, with the aim of circumventing financial control and inspection mechanisms.
Casares justified the deposits as payments relating to bonuses for São Paulo’s achievements. Even so, in 2023, the bank responsible for the accounts issued a warning to Coaf as it considered the transactions to be outside the standard.
Will Casares resign from his position?
According to UOL, Julio Casares is scheduled to meet this Tuesday, at 4pm, with the club’s Advisory Council, made up of former Tricolor presidents.
On the meeting’s agenda are the possibility of Casares’s resignation and the advancement of the impeachment request. The Deliberative Council received the request in December, and the process can still be submitted to the councilors for a vote.
There is still no definition as to what the president’s stance will be when faced with the chance of resigning.
According to Rádio Itatiaia, the leader’s defense intends to present, throughout the investigations, documents, statements and tax information that prove his innocence.
Casares’ ex-wife is also a target
Mara Casares/Disclosure
The investigation also points out that the president’s account was used to pay for his ex-wife, Mara Casares’ expenses. She held the positions of women’s, cultural and events director at the club, as well as being an advisor.
Mara stepped down from her duties after the revelation of a clandestine operation of a cabin at Morumbis, a case that involved her name and that of Douglas Schwartzmann.
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Organizations from São Paulo demonstrate
Torcida Independente and Dragões da Real published official notes after the complaint came to light this Tuesday morning (6).
Independente states that it waited for the police and judicial investigation to progress before taking a position on the allegations involving Julio Casares’ management, highlighting that it did not want to act based on guesswork or without evidence. With the emergence of evidence, the group says it feels betrayed by the president’s stance, who presented himself as a “president from the stands.”
Dragões da Real states that the new allegations that have emerged need to be investigated rigorously, independently and transparently. If irregularities are confirmed, those responsible must be punished in an exemplary manner in the sporting and criminal spheres, highlighting that São Paulo cannot tolerate illicit practices.
Withdrawals from club accounts under investigation
In addition to the case involving the president, the Civil Police is investigating 35 cash withdrawals made from São Paulo accounts between January 2021 and November 2025. In total, the withdrawals total R$11 million.
Coaf reports do not indicate the destination of the amounts withdrawn from the club’s legal accounts. In 2021, R$1.5 million were withdrawn in seven operations, followed by R$1.2 million in six withdrawals in 2022. In 2023, the amount reached R$1.4 million, also in six operations. In 2024, there was the largest volume: 11 withdrawals totaling R$5.2 million. In 2025, another R$1.7 million was withdrawn in five operations.
The first withdrawals, in 2021, were made by a São Paulo employee. Afterwards, the club started using a cash transport company to make cash withdrawals.
For investigators, this change may indicate an attempt to make it more difficult to identify who had final access to the resources.
