Brazilian football clubs and state federations have opposed the possibility of a federal government measure banning sports betting, warning that suspending the regulated market could push many clubs into insolvency.
Flamengo, Fluminense, Vasco and Botafogo, together with the Rio de Janeiro State Football Federation (FERJ), Sao Paulo Football Federation (FPF) and Alagoas Football Federation (FAF), issued a joint statement late on Thursday titled “The End of Brazilian Football”.
The statement marked the first unified public pronouncement by the four Rio de Janeiro clubs on the issue and reflects concern over reports of possible changes to Brazil’s betting regulations.
The clubs said investment from authorised betting companies had become one of the main sources of revenue for Brazilian football in recent years, helping strengthen clubs competing in the regional CONMEBOL Libertadores and Sudamericana cups.
That financial support extends beyond the country’s biggest teams, reaching smaller clubs, lower divisions and competitions with less commercial exposure, the statement said.
For clubs in Brazil’s interior, there is currently no other economic sector capable of immediately replacing that investment, according to the statement. Betting revenue helps finance administrative structures, training centres, social projects, women’s football and youth development.
“An abrupt change in the rules would reduce the investment capacity of clubs and create imbalances inside and outside the country,” the document said.
The clubs added that “regularly signed contracts, multi-year plans, and financial commitments were established under a regulatory framework built by the State itself.”
Brazil chose to regulate the betting market rather than seek to eliminate it, the clubs said, noting that the sector had already existed and moved billions of reais through illegal operations.
Under the regulated framework, betting companies were authorised to operate, began paying taxes and took on obligations involving consumer protection, blocking minors, preventing abusive practices and combating money laundering and manipulation of competitions, the statement said.
The clubs also argued that regulation had helped remove Brazil from the top of the global ranking of match-fixing cases.
They warned that making the regulated market unviable would instead drive bettors toward illegal operators.
“Making this model unviable will not cause betting to cease to exist. It will only pave the way for consumers to migrate entirely to clandestine platforms, which do not pay taxes, do not respect limits, do not offer protection instruments and do not cooperate with the authorities.”
The statement acknowledged the social impact of betting, particularly on vulnerable people, and called for stronger oversight, consumer protection, education and prevention measures rather than an abrupt prohibition.
Football representatives said they were prepared to work with the federal government, National Congress and state and municipal authorities on measures to combat illegal betting and strengthen protections.
The statement warned that the consequences of ending the regulated market would ultimately be borne by football fans and clubs, arguing that betting would continue through illegal channels while the sport would lose a major source of revenue.