GMB - During this time of pandemic, you have participated in many online events. In these Internet conferences, how are sports professionals dealing with the impacts of the crisis?
Gustavo Delbin - The impacts of the crisis make all professionals, from all areas, rethink their habits, the way they work and see their business, review strategies and their performance. Evidently, in the sports sector the impacts are enormous. The sport is absolutely stopped, without any kind of prescription. Without the ball rolling, we are living on the reserves of other times. Therefore, we are dealing with an absolutely new and unusual scenario. We need to think about a new one and new attitudes for the new normal, for our new future. We are all busy and concerned with what is to come, preparing, united, to find new ways of exploring our products, devising new strategies to be prepared for the scenario that -we do not know when- will come.
The pandemic has already generated a crisis that will require a lot of creativity and speed to generate new sources of funds. Do you suggest to the government to speed up the approval of the decree that regulates sports betting so that the country begins to collect taxes?
Yes, there is no doubt that the sports market, when we start again, will need all the possibilities of new markets. Sports betting could bring a significant increase in the sources of funds. It will be a way to increase the cash flow of the sports industry that will not depend on the presence of the public in stadiums and arenas and that therefore can occur immediately, where a sporting event happens, transmitted by any way that reaches the final consumer, the fan/bettor.
With this regulation approved, do you imagine that the chances of more actions and sponsorship of these betting sites in local football increase? The feeling is that there is much more way to go where everyone wins (clubs, companies and the State).
There's no doubt. It will be an important market, in all aspects, for betting sites, for clubs, for advertisers, sponsors, fans and also for the State, which will earn from the taxes resulting from the activity. More than necessary, it will be mandatory!
Bill 2125/20, recently presented at the Chamber of Deputies, establishes that funds from the Timemania lottery, which are now used to pay debts to the Federal Government, should be allocated to clubs. What is your position in relation to the Bill and what advantages can it bring to Brazilian clubs during the coronavirus crisis?
Bill 2125/20 aims to suspend the payment of the installments of debts within the scope of PROFUT, provides for the transfer of revenues from Timemania and changes the Pelé Law with regard to the minimum term of the employment contract between athletes and clubs, only during the lifetime of the coronavirus pandemic. In this sense, the Bill will bring savings on the one hand and increase amounts to the clubs' cashiers during a period of total lack of money. The importance of approving this and other legislative measures already underway by national sport, as a whole, especially football, so that it can remain strengthened, even in the face of this uncertain situation, is a vital issue. I am convinced that the punctual and momentary situations dealt with in the Bill can guarantee the near future and assist in the brief resumption of activities within the highest possible normality. It is worth mentioning that not approving the suggested changes can cost the existence of clubs, and consequently, injure sport, federations, athletes and other football professionals.
A consortium of two very important companies, such as Stats Perform and ZSM, got the rights to broadcast the Brasileirão to betting sites abroad. Do you think this will help spread the local football and the image of the clubs to attract possible firms from abroad to teams from São Paulo?
I understand that every initiative, every serious and professional work, every investment, is necessary and can help football and the image of the clubs.
Is the São Paulo Football Federation involved in these rights? If so, what is the entity's role and role in this negotiation?
The Federation of São Paulo is working tirelessly together with clubs, athletes, sponsors and business partners to make competitions possible again. Without the ball rolling, nothing will happen. We need to be ready for the resumption of football, safe and conscious, duly authorized by the government. The Federation will always strive for the development of our reason for existing. Football is a relevant activity and the return of competitions transmitted to the homes of Brazilians will contribute to the reduction of displacements and to the less suffered social isolation to Brazilians. We always fight for the “right to football”, with security, highlighting our enormous concern with all the professionals of Futebol Paulista, from our employees, our affiliates and all entities, directly or indirectly, linked to our reason for existing. We will remain attentive and come back stronger.
Source: Exclusive Games Magazine Brasil
