CBF holds landmark talks with Série A and B clubs on Brazil league

CBF held an inaugural meeting with Serie A and B clubs and State Federations to begin the debate on the creation of a Football League in BrazilCredits: Rafael Ribeiro/CBF

This Monday (6), in Rio, CBF held an inaugural meeting with representatives of clubs from the Brazilian Serie A and B championships and the State Federations to begin the debate on the creation of a Football League in Brazil. In a historic initiative for the collective effort to strengthen the “Brazilian football” product, the entity brought together the country’s main leaders in order to promote a qualified space for discussion on the topic.

“Today was a historic day for Brazilian football. For the first time, Serie A and B came together with CBF to discuss an issue that will define our future: the creation of a single league. This is a moment that demands responsibility, vision and, above all, unity. The formation of a single league has a very clear objective: to enhance the value of Brazilian football,” emphasized CBF president Samir Xaud.

At the event, CBF presented studies carried out since the first months of the current administration to show the full untapped potential of Brazilian football, whose top national division is nevertheless the sixth most valuable league in the world. The analysis was deepened following an international immersion in Europe in January, when the Brazilian delegation learned about concepts, governance models and strategies used by the leagues and federations of England, Germany and Spain on topics such as financial fair play, technology and the professionalization of refereeing.

CBF president Samir Xaud at the event that brought together Serie A and B clubs and State Federations to begin the debate on the creation of a Football League in BrazilCredits: Rafael Ribeiro/CBF

Different structural issues of the Brasileirão were compared with the world’s top national championships, and the areas in which Brazil still needs improvement were identified: calendar, effective playing time, stadiums (attendance, security and infrastructure), broadcasting, communication and social media, marketing, the exodus of young talents, governance of competition regulations and the financial situation of clubs.

However, before launching this entire process, CBF responded to recent statements from various sports entities and clubs by organizing a formal event aimed at starting conversations regarding a single league in Brazil, a move seen by the entity as a necessary step for the evolution of Brazilian football.

CBF vice-president Gustavo Dias at the event that brought together Serie A and B clubs and State Federations to begin the debate on the creation of a Football League in BrazilCredits: Rafael Ribeiro/CBF

Positioning itself as a mediator and one of the leaders in the debate, CBF reiterates that the league, above all, belongs to the clubs.

“Nothing we want for Brazilian football will be possible without unity. There will be no progress without unity. And unity requires maturity, dialogue and concessions from all sides. The league needs to belong to the clubs. That is a fundamental, non-negotiable principle. CBF will be present, with an active role as mediator and one of the leaders of the process. But decisions need to be built and made by the clubs,” stressed Gustavo Dias, CBF vice-president.

CBF held an inaugural meeting with Serie A and B clubs and State Federations to begin the debate on the creation of a Football League in BrazilCredits: Rafael Ribeiro/CBF

The entity also believes that the league will be born even stronger as a result of the series of transformations CBF has been promoting in Brazilian football, such as the restructuring and streamlining of the men’s professional football calendar, the implementation of Financial Fair Play, and the professionalization of refereeing and investment in technology.

“These reforms are not extras; they are foundations. Without them, any league model would be born fragile, unable to deliver the value we all want. That is why, even knowing the importance of the league, we chose first to build the foundations that would guarantee its sustainability,” Samir Xaud highlighted.

From this inaugural meeting onward, CBF, which prioritizes dialogue before making any decision, will gather solutions and ideas from clubs and state federations to move forward with discussions on the creation of a Football League in Brazil.

CBF held an inaugural meeting with Serie A and B clubs and State Federations to begin the debate on the creation of a Football League in BrazilCredits: Rafael Ribeiro/CBF

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.