The clubs want to be able to participate in oral arguments during the trial of Direct Action of Unconstitutionality (ADI) 7,721 and claim that they could help “reduce misinformation” about the case. The action was filed by the National Confederation of Commerce of Goods, Services and Tourism (CNC). The organization is requesting the precautionary suspension and declaration of unconstitutionality of Law 14,790, known as the ‘Bets’ Law.
The teams associate the good performance of Brazilian clubs with the investment made by betting companies in the sector. They say that, since 2019, of the six finals of the Copa Libertadores, five have been monopolized by two Brazilian teams.
For Botafogo and Cruzeiro, this is not a coincidence, but a consequence of the “capital injection brought about by the law”. The clubs cite a memorial sent by 30 teams to the Supreme Court in November, which states that sponsorship by betting companies already reaches 70% of the clubs in the Brazilian football elite. The amount jumped from R$333 million (US$53.5m) to R$630 million (US$100m) between 2023 and 2024.
“Cruzeiro and Botafogo are part of the extensive list of teams that currently have fixed-odds betting houses as their main sponsor, an amount that has become essential for maintaining the clubs' structure and results,” say lawyers from the Almeida Castro, Castro e Turbay law firm, who represent the teams.
Cruzeiro is currently sponsored by Betfair and Botafogo has Parimatch as its master until the end of the year and is already negotiating a new contract with other bookmakers.
The clubs also state that the participation of those affected by the Supreme Court's decision in the case “creates a necessary stock of information about the consequences of the decisions”, which would lead the Court to “more adequately conform the scope of protection of fundamental rights in the constitutional interpretation process.”
To date, rapporteur Luiz Fux has not admitted any of the requests to join the action as amicus curiae. In November, during the public hearing on the subject, the minister stated that the judgment on the merits should take place in the first half of 2025.
Source: GMB / Jota
