Flamengo's Deliberative Council approves change to make SAF implementation more difficult at the club

Controversies always seem to surround Flamengo, and yet another unexpected piece of news involving the club came to light this Wednesday (18), this time related to women's football. Rubro-Negro was condemned by the courts in a case brought by six former players, with a decision that surprised everyone.

The action, which had been ongoing since 2021, resulted in a conviction worth R$3.2 million. According to information from Uol, the names of the players were not revealed, but they were released during the reformulation of the sport in 2022 and were seeking recognition of a professional bond with Flamengo.

Flamengo, which maintains a partnership with the Brazilian Navy did not pay the athletes directly, as they were third sergeants. They played for the club between 2015 and 2021, a period in which they won the Brazilian Women's Championship. However, the players argued that the practice adopted by the club and the Navy was irregular, according to the partnership contract.

“An item in the cooperation term made it clear that the Navy would not provide financial resources, nor would it carry out the direct transfer of facilities. Flamengo was intentionally omitted to pay the athletes”, guarantees lawyer Rafael Cunha.

Despite the initial decision, Flamengo can still appeal. The Regional Labor Court of Rio de Janeiro unanimously understood that Flamengo benefited from the situation and determined that the club must record the athletes' contributions in their Work Cards, in addition to paying the due salaries and other labor obligations.

In addition to these six players, eight others also filed lawsuits against Flamengo for the same reason, but their trials have not yet taken place. In response to Uol, the club commented on the case:

“Of the nine legal actions involving former Navy athletes and coaches, eight had court decisions removing the employment relationship with the Clube de Regatas do Flamengo, considering that these are exclusively third-level Navy sergeants”, he says.

Last week, children who practice judo in the social project Jogaremos Juntos, promoted by Flamengo's Social Responsibility, had an unforgettable experience. They visited the club's headquarters, in Gávea, and trained alongside Flamengo's judo teachers and athletes, experiencing a day full of learning, discipline and sportsmanship.

In total, 70 children, from centers of Cantagalo and Queimados, had the chance to practice judo under the guidance of high-level professionals, reinforcing the values ​​of the sport, such as respect, determination and teamwork.

At the dojô, the children were welcomed by the coach of the under-13 and under-15 red-black judo teams, Rodrigo Domiciano, who, together with club athletes, shared his experiences and spoke about the importance of dedication to progress in the sport. “In the midst of so many negative references, it is essential that these children have positive references. Here they can see that it is possible to reach a higher degree, seek a black belt, seek important competitions and this will change their realities”, he said.

For many, the day was a unique opportunity to become inspire, dream big and continue following the path of sport. “The children came very excited. They've been talking about coming here to Flamengo for a week. It's important for them to be here, in a different place, with so much structure... This all makes them want to dedicate themselves more”, said professor Alves, who teaches judo at Jogaremos Juntos - Núcleo Queimados. Cantagalo resident Leda Maria Pereira de Macedo, mother of student Davi, added. “Children who live in communities need sports so they don't get lost and judo has already got my son back on track. He now has discipline, he has become another child! Davi takes a shower, goes to bed early... I'm very happy. I'm very grateful to have the project there”, she praised.

With its own methodology, Jogaremos Juntos is an education project through sport, based on socio-emotional skills. Through it, children and young people have the opportunity to work on self-knowledge, resilience, empathy, focus and other skills that they learn from sports and put into practice to face and overcome challenges in life, whether at school, in family or with friends.

In total, the project serves 800 children in six communities in Rio de Janeiro - Cantagalo Pavão Pavãozinho, Complexo do Alemão, Vila Aliança, Morro do Banco, Santa Cruz and Queimados - with classes football, judo, basketball, artistic gymnastics and volleyball. The project is encouraged by the Federal Sports Incentive Law and has Shell as a sponsor.

The Deliberative Council of Flamengo must approve this Wednesday (11) by a large personal majority, the proposed amendment to the statute that makes it even more difficult to transform the club's football into SAF (football corporation).

The amendment, drawn up by the opposition groups Frente Flamengo Maior and Flamengo Sem Fronteiras, was filed with the signature of 217 advisors, including presidential candidates Maurício Gomes de Mattos (supported by both groups), Luiz Eduardo Baptista (Bap) and Wallim Vasconcellos.

According to information from the "Mundo Rubro-negro" portal, the The majority of supporters of current candidate Rodrigo Dunshee de Abranches are also in favor of the amendment. The expectation, therefore, is of approval by a large majority, perhaps even unanimously.

The amendment arose as a reaction to the defense made by president Rodolfo Landim of the possibility of Flamengo creating a SAF to finance the construction of its stadium . In recent months, however, Landim, faced with the negative repercussion, changed his speech, and now says that the stadium will be built without the need to create the Sociedade Anônima de Futebol.

In the campaign, including the allies Dunshee and Bap accuse each other of being the true “fathers” of the SAF idea at the club, as Bap promoted a series of lectures on the topic. Last week, GE revealed that former vice-president of Finance Claudio Pracownik produced, in 2022, a study on the transformation of Flamengo into SAF.

Pracownik, who then worked at the consultancy Win The Game , says that he produced the study at the club's request, but the Landim management denies that he asked for it. When launching his candidacy on Monday (9), Bap and his supporters called on their allies to vote in favor of the amendment.

Meanwhile, Maurício Gomes de Mattos highlights that he has always been against the SAF. “I don’t know who the father of the SAF is, I know it’s not me,” he said at the launch of his candidacy last week.