Diego Ribas comments on invitation to take position at Flamengo: “That moment will come…”

During the Flamengo Deliberative Council meeting, held this Tuesday (7), president Luiz Eduardo Baptista, Bap, addressed the legal dispute with Libra and responded to criticism made by Leila Pereira, president of Palmeiras. The director also reinforced that the club does not intend to leave the league and that it is already planning its own broadcast model after the end of the current contract.

Bap on the contract with the bloc: "they will have to live with Flamengo until December 31, 2029"

“ZERO CHANCE OF FLAMENGO LEAVING LIBRA”

Bap was categorical in denying any possibility of an immediate break with the league: "There is zero chance of Flamengo leaving Libra. Flamengo will have to live with Libra until December 31, 2029 , and they will have to live with Flamengo until December 31, 2029. Period."

The president emphasized that the club is already working on creating an independent business model, focused on selling broadcast rights directly to fans, without intermediaries. According to him, this strategy follows global trends in the sports market and should be a milestone in the relationship between the club and its fans.

"Four years seems like a long time, but it goes by quickly. Flamengo's future lies with its own platform ," he stated. Flamengo currently broadcasts internationally using its own infrastructure, which, according to Bap, serves as a foundation for future expansion of the model into the domestic market.

BAP CRITICIZES LEILA PEREIRA AND CITES DEAL BETWEEN CREFISA AND VASCO

The director also criticized Leila Pereira's stance, which has been harshly criticizing Flamengo amid the Libra crisis. He mentioned Crefisa's loan to Vasco's SAF, which provides for the possibility of transferring 19% of the shares in the event of default , as an example of a transaction that, he said, requires greater transparency.

"I have no doubt that there's a very clear agenda. We're talking about this Libra issue, and the company she presides over lent money to Vasco's SAF . Who here has ever borrowed money from a financial institution? I want your house, your boat, your apartment, your farm... Who would ask for 19 percent or so of SAF shares if they can't pay it back? The last time this happened in Brazil, the Menins bought Atlético."

Bap also stated that the case should be analyzed from the perspective of Financial Fair Play in Brazilian football and defended the need for transparency in relationships between clubs and sponsors: " I find this kind of thing absolutely bizarre, and it should be questioned . We're talking about Financial Fair Play. César's wife doesn't just need to be honest; she has to appear honest too. There's an agenda, I have no doubt there is, but time will tell what that agenda is."

The crisis in the Brazilian Football League (Libra) has reached its most delicate point since the bloc's founding. Based on the club's bylaws, executives of member clubs are evaluating the possibility of excluding Flamengo, one of its founders and main commercial pillar . The information was released by journalist Lucas Musetti (UOL) on the program De Primeira and reflects the deepening rift between the Rio de Janeiro club and the other members of the league.

BLOCKING OF R$77 MILLION IGNITED THE CONFLICT

The tension, previously confined to the sidelines, became public after Flamengo obtained an injunction in Rio de Janeiro courts blocking the transfer of R$77 million from the second installment of the broadcast rights contract with TV Globo. The amount was to be distributed among all Libra clubs.

Behind the scenes, the action was interpreted as a breach of trust and an attempt to "change the rules while the game is still underway." The central point of the dispute is the criteria for dividing TV revenue, especially the calculation based on viewership.

WHAT THE CONTRACT SAYS

The current agreement provides for the split to follow the 40%-30%-30% model :

• 40% in equal parts ;
• 30% according to sports performance ;
• 30% according to the audience .

Flamengo disputes the methodology used to measure this audience, claiming that the bylaws are silent and that the current system results in a loss of over R$100 million annually for the club. Journalist Rodrigo Mattos, from UOL, published an excerpt from the document that highlights the lack of specificity regarding the distribution percentages.

LIBRA POSITIONING

In an official statement, Libra refuted Flamengo's arguments and stated that the distribution rule was " approved unanimously at the General Assembly , including by Flamengo itself, and without reservations." The organization also accused the club of breaking off dialogue and creating an "artificial fact" to exert economic pressure on the other members, emphasizing that "Brazilian football has no owner."

REACTION FROM OTHER CLUBS

Santos' Marcelo Teixeira on the Libra crisis: "There is an intention to exclude Flamengo"

Palmeiras president Leila Pereira was one of the most vocal critics, calling Flamengo's stance "individualistic and predatory." She stated that she intends to take legal action to seek compensation for the losses caused by the injunction. Santos president Marcelo Teixeira confirmed that there is an internal analysis of the legal viability of expelling the "Mais Querido" from the league:

"Libra released an official statement refuting each point and clarifying the facts. Internally, there is an intention to exclude Flamengo, due to the seriousness of this attempt to change the rules during the game . This is not a Santos initiative, but a study based on the statute," the director stated.

FLAMENGO DEFENSE

Flamengo, for its part, argues that it has always sought dialogue but has faced resistance from other clubs. According to the board, the lawsuit was a last resort to ensure the club's representation was respected . The club also maintains that the injunction only covers the 30% of the hearing, precisely the point in dispute, without compromising the remaining 70% of the transfer.

UNCERTAIN FUTURE FOR THE LEAGUE

While Libra is trying to overturn the court decision and release the R$77 million, the bloc's future is in doubt. The potential expulsion of Flamengo, its largest market asset, could have profound commercial and political impacts , threatening the very existence of the league created to unite clubs and strengthen Brazilian football.

CONMEBOL's Disciplinary Unit has summoned Flamengo striker Bruno Henrique to a hearing to investigate his conduct following the Copa Libertadores quarterfinal match against Estudiantes in Argentina. Henrique was caught making obscene gestures toward the opposing fans shortly after the match ended in La Plata.

The hearing is scheduled for this Friday at 11:30 a.m. (Brasília time) , and the Mais Querido's number 27 will be able to participate virtually. The case will be analyzed in light of the organization's Disciplinary Code, which can apply anything from a warning to a suspension for official matches.

CONMEBOL EVALUATES BRUNO HENRIQUE

Bruno Henrique was charged under Articles 2b and 2c of Article 11 of the CONMEBOL Disciplinary Code, which address offensive or defamatory behavior and violations of the minimum standards expected in sports competitions. If deemed an infraction, the sanction will be determined in accordance with Article 6 of the same regulations , which provides for punishments such as a suspension for a specified number of matches or for a specific period.

PLAYER CLAIMS TO HAVE FIGHTED BACK

After the penalty shootout victory over Estudiantes, Bruno Henrique stated on social media that he reacted to taunts and aggression from the stands. According to the player, he was hit by objects thrown by fans , including a lighter that allegedly hit his face.

" They only show my part, but they don't show the part of us players being hit by objects, cans, and other things. I only had that reaction after being hit in the face with a lighter," the Flamengo forward wrote in a comment on Instagram.