São Paulo clubs leave Libra and go to Liga Forte União – 04/12/2024 – Television

Aracaju

Four clubs from São Paulo that were part of Libra left the league led by teams like Flamengo and Palmeiras, and agreed to join the Liga Forte União last Thursday night (11). They all compete in Series B of the Brazilian Championship.

The departure was due to criticism of the contract model signed with Globo by Libra for the Brasileirão between 2025 and 2029. Mirassol, Ponte Preta, Ituano and Novorizontino are the teams that decided to join the LFU for the sale of broadcasting rights for the main league nationally from now on.

Furthermore, Botafogo-SP, which was not in either of the two leagues, chose to settle with the Liga Forte Futebol and follow the São Paulo teams.

The exchange was made official with LFU representatives this Thursday, and communicated to the Libra teams, who notified the country’s largest broadcaster. The block exchange surprised behind the scenes.

By increasing the number of LFU teams in Series B of the Brazilian Championship, there is a greater chance of having more clubs in Series A in 2025, when the Brasileirão’s new TV contract cycle comes into force.

Teams from São Paulo left Libra with the argument that Libra’s exclusive contract signed with Globo has many problems, and harms teams with smaller fans. They were in favor of listening to other companies besides the Brazilian media conglomerate.

Furthermore, Globo’s contract is seen by these five clubs as more advantageous for the broadcaster than for the teams. A contract clause, for example, allows Globo to break the contract with Libra from 2027 if inflation for the year exceeds 15%.

Everything will depend on how the Brazilian economy will be and how a possible new government will act that year. Behind the scenes, this clause was seen as a precaution due to what happened during the Jair Bolsonaro government (2019-2022).

In 2021, the IPCA (Broad National Consumer Price Index) was 10.06%. According to the individual agreement it has with the teams, which is valid until the end of 2024, the broadcaster needs to readjust the agreement annually, always above inflation.

In the link with Libra, according to a document obtained by F5, Globo will adjust payments annually according to the IPCA, but limits inflation payments per year to 5%. There is no ceiling for deflation.

If inflation exceeds 15% per year, Globo and Libra can waive the agreement from 2027 onwards without paying a fine to either party. Libra can do the same.

Liga Forte União will share the broadcasting rights for the Brazilian Championship from 2025. The company is looking for open, pay TV and digital platforms.

Libra is made up of eight teams that are currently in the first division, such as Flamengo, Palmeiras, São Paulo, Grêmio, Atlético Mineiro, Red Bull Bragantino, Bahia and Vitória. In the lower divisions, Guarani and Sampaio Corrêa are part of the team.

The Liga Forte União brings together Internacional, Cruzeiro, Fluminense, Vasco, Athletico-PR, Atlético-GO Botafogo, Goiás, Fortaleza, América-MG, Cuiabá, Criciúma and Juventude, in Series A; in addition to Sport, Ceará, Avaí, Chapecoense, Coritiba, CRB, Vila Nova, Londrina, Tombense, Figueirense, CSA and Operário-PR in lower divisions, along with teams from São Paulo that have just arrived.

The only team that does not yet have a side in the fight for TV rights for the Brazilian Championship from 2025 onwards is Corinthians, which still chooses which side it will be on.