Cruzeiro and Botafogo threaten to leave Futebol Forte União (FFU) after the Administrative Council for Economic Defense (Cade) granted an injunction that allows the clubs to leave economic blocs. The decision, taken last Thursday (25), led the two clubs to extrajudicially notify the FFU this Friday (26), giving the league ten working days to adapt.
The information, initially released by Máquina do Esporte and confirmed by Itatiaiahighlights that Cade’s measure allows for the dismissal of members that was previously unforeseen. The action that resulted in the injunction was filed by the CSA, which claimed losses due to some restriction imposed by the league.
The Administrative Council for Economic Defense justified the decision by stating that there is “no competitive justification for a league to impose artificial obstacles designed to prevent or hinder the departure of clubs that wish to join the competing structure”, according to Alexandre Barreto de Souza, general superintendent of Cade.
What Cade says about free competition
Barreto de Souza added that “competition between leagues presupposes that clubs can evaluate the different existing models and choose the one that best meets their economic and sporting interests”. He considered that opposite conduct could be “classified as violating the economic order”.
Fines and the league scenario in Brazil
Despite the freedom to leave, Cade’s injunction highlights that “any eventual separation of a particular club from the condominium is not to be confused with the extinction of the patrimonial obligations assumed by it”. Fines for contracts and amounts already committed may, therefore, be charged.
Futebol Forte União (FFU) is one of the economic blocs of Brazilian football that negotiates the broadcasting rights for Series A, B, C and D. The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has less participation in these negotiations.
In addition to Botafogo, other First Division clubs that make up the club are Athletico-PR, Chapecoense, Coritiba, Fluminense, Internacional, Mirassol and Vasco da Gama. The other large group on the Brazilian league scene is the Brazilian Football League (Libra).
This text was generated by artificial intelligence based on content produced by Itatiaia. All information is investigated and checked by journalists. The final text is also reviewed by the CNN journalism team
