Sanction involves signing defender Lucas Villalba and keeps club prevented from registering new players
This Tuesday (June 9, 2026) the team applied the 6th punishment for financial pending issues in player transfers. The new sanction is related to the debt in the signing of Uruguayan defender Lucas Villalba, purchased from Nacional do Uruguay, in January 2026. The Rio club did not pay the amount agreed in the operation and received another transfer bana punishment that prevents new athletes from registering.
Villalba’s transfer cost US$3 million (R$16.3 million at the time). The Uruguayan was the first reinforcement announced by Botafogo for the 2026 season. The player could not be registered immediately because the club was already prevented from registering new athletes due to previous sanctions.
The most recent punishment was applied for an indefinite period of time. FIFA adopted this criterion due to Botafogo’s repeated failure to comply with financial obligations.
Sanctions history
The club accumulates debts with 5 foreign clubs. The debts involve the signings of Thiago Almada (Atlanta United), Rwan Cruz (Ludogorets), Santi Rodríguez (New York City), Artur (Zenit) and Lucas Villalba (Nacional).
Botafogo’s 3rd punishment was applied for an indefinite period in the case of Thiago Almada. The club renegotiated the debt with Atlanta United, but did not pay the 2nd installment of the agreement. The 4th sanction prohibited Botafogo from signing up new players for 3 transfer windows.
On Monday (April 20, 2026), FIFA punished the club for debts owed to Ludogorets regarding the signing of Rwan Cruz. The operation was closed for 8 million euros (R$48.3 million at the exchange rate at the time). On May 7, Botafogo received another punishment for the debt owed to New York City in the transfer of Santi Rodríguez. The agreement was for US$5 million (R$28.1 million at the exchange rate at the time). The club did not pay the installments.
The disputes with Zenit regarding the purchase of Artur total 3 unpaid installments of 1.9 million euros each. The total debt is 5.7 million euros (R$34.1 million).
