Conmebol announced that it has started to implement financial fair play rules
Before the draw of the groups of Libertadores and from Sul-Americana 2026, the president of Conmebol, Alejandro Domínguez, brought together representatives of the main clubs on the continent and gave a speech that touched on two sensitive topics: the financial fair play and the fight against racism and violence in football.
It looked promising. But, as often happens in these special events, the content was more general promises than concrete measures.
Conmebol announced that it has started to implement financial fair play rules. The idea is clear: avoid financial imbalances, prevent clubs from accumulating unpayable debts and, above all, ensure that players and employees receive their salaries on time.
Domínguez was direct in stating that the entity does not want “clubs in debt” and that it will impose limits to balance the books. Great in theory. The problem is that the speech has not yet been accompanied by practical details: what will be the exact limits?
What sanctions will be applied? And, most importantly, will the big clubs — those that historically generate the most revenue and the most controversy — really be punished when they fail to comply?
Financial fair play will only gain credibility when concrete cases appear and Conmebol shows rigor, including (and especially) with the continent’s giants. Until then, there is the feeling that it is another measure announced to calm tempers before the start of the season, without immediate high-impact commitments.
Regarding racism and violence, Domínguez was categorical: “We will do everything necessary.” The entity is “determined” to transform South American football into a celebration, with no room for discrimination or aggression inside and outside the stadiums.
Strong words, without a doubt. But Conmebol has a long history of vehement statements against racism — almost annually, in fact — followed by punishments that fans and the press tend to classify as mild. Insignificant fines, games behind closed doors in extreme cases, but rarely anything that really hurts the pocket or changes behavior in a structural way.
Once again, there was no announcement of new specific measures, reinforced protocols or expanded partnerships with governments and federations. It remained in the field of good intentions.
All of this sounds like a classic “protocol of intentions”: an instrument often used by politicians and sports managers to save time, convey a positive image and calm tempers before major events. “Everything necessary” is promised, but without specifying what this means in practice.
With the Libertadores and Sul-Americana starting, Conmebol will have many opportunities to prove — or not — the rigor behind the speech. If the defaults continue, if episodes of racism are treated lightly and if financial imbalances persist without real punishments for the big ones, Domínguez’s speech will quickly fall into oblivion. For now, the record remains: beautiful words were said.
Now we have to wait (and demand) actions to match.
*This text does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Jovem Pan.
