Brazilian soccer teams oppose betting sponsor bans

Soccer teams in Brazil have opposed a proposed legislation that would remove betting advertising from jerseys and other sponsorship advertising.

The bill (Bill No. 2.985/2023) is from the desk of Brazilian politician and Senator Carlos Portinho, and was tabled on May 5th, 2025.  Teams in the league have met the proposed law with scepticism and have a wary eye on the coffers that are filled by lucrative betting contracts.

Brazilian soccer has been a hotbed of sporting talent since Pele and Garrincha made their mark on the 1958 World Cup. The former would become the youngest-ever player to score in a World Cup at 17, and help take the nation’s first trophy back to Brasília from Sweden.

More than half of the clubs in the nation’s largest and most well-known league, Brazil’s Serie A have published a joint statement of opposition to the law.

One of those clubs, Sport Club Internacional (SC Internacional), posted on the club’s official website, saying, Bill No. 2.985/2023 “is a prohibition disguised as a limitation.”

Notable players who have worn the famous red and white of the Clube do Povo (The People’s Club) include current Liverpool FC stalwart Alison Becker and the likes of Alexandre Pato of AC Milan fame and Oscar, who was highly regarded at Chelsea FC.

“The serious financial losses will be quite significant for the big clubs. However, what is even more cruel about the Substitute Bill (Bill No. 2.985/2023) is that these new rules could be definitive for the survival of smaller clubs, which also carry out important social work and carry the emotional bond of their communities in the regions where they are based,” continued the statement.

Atlético Mineiro, Botafogo, Ceará, Flamengo, Fluminense, Fortaleza, Juventude, Grêmio, Mirassol, Palmeiras, and RB Bragantino to name some of the biggest names in South American soccer, all joined in supporting the opposition across their social media channels.

As we reported, Brazilian Senator Eduardo Girão spoke publicly on his criticism of online sports betting during a speech in the Federal Senate this month (May 2025). “We need to stop this humanitarian tragedy that is betting,” Girão said in a statement cited by Agência Senado (translated into English).

The SC International’s stance reinforces the club and the combined might of the Serie A clubs in their supporting statement that “defending Responsible Gaming does not mean that an almost total restriction is the solution.”

Featured image: SC Internacional Official.

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