Brazilian clubs seek more time to end betting partnerships at STF hearing

Clubs that have taken their case to Brazil's Supreme Court (STF) plan to press for a longer transition period to end their partnerships with sports betting companies if the provisional measure barring betting sponsorship in Brazilian football is not revoked, according to a report. The request is to be put at a public hearing called by STF minister Luiz Fux, scheduled for Tuesday 3 November. The hearing is to bring together representatives of 10 Série A clubs and of betting companies.

Alongside the longer adaptation period, the clubs and betting companies intend to renew their request to suspend the injunction that keeps the measure in force. The clubs' assessment, as reported, is that the provisional measure was issued for electoral reasons. Following the re-election of President Lula, the teams take the view that the government has more to gain politically if betting companies return to operating in sponsorships and on shirts in national football. For the entities involved, the implementation was abrupt and came at a politically sensitive moment.

CBF president Samir Xaud is described as facing a delicate moment after the election result. The report says he positioned himself actively against the betting provisional measure and is associated with the clubs' boycott of a meeting called by the Ministry of Sport to discuss the prohibition; the ministry cancelled the meeting after it was left empty. Within the CBF, the assessment is that Xaud will need to rebuild relations with the federal government, particularly with the Women's World Cup approaching, an event that requires coordination with Brasília.

According to the report, Xaud's political exposure goes beyond the betting question. People described as interlocutors said he backed the PL candidate in the elections and became involved in disputes in Roraima, the state where his mother, Ilma Xaud, was elected second substitute for senator Teresa Surita of the MDB, a supporter of Flávio Bolsonaro. People close to the situation described the move as a "tiro no pé". The same sources said rebuilding relations with the government also runs through the group of Francisco Mendes, son of minister Gilmar Mendes and cited as a possible candidate for the CBF leadership at the entity's next elections. There is no confirmation yet on whether Xaud will attend the Tuesday 3 November STF hearing in person.