ESPN makes millionaire profit from Libertadores quarter-finals

Flamengo received a lot of criticism after their early elimination in the Libertadores da América. The defeat to Peñarol (URU) generated calls for coach Tite's resignation from the red and black fans. According to journalist André Rizek, Tite is already “morally dismissed” from his position as coach.

“Since 2011, with Vanderlei Luxemburgo, a coach has not started and finished a season at the club. Maybe Tite will be able to do that this year, but this way, he will do it while balancing himself. I understand that Tite morally, he is already fired after yesterday”, stated Rizek.

NEGATIVE ENJOYMENT

Under Tite’s command, Flamengo was eliminated from the Libertadores with a performance below expected. In 10 games, Rubro-Negro won four wins, two draws and four defeats, resulting in a 46.6% success rate. In the knockout stage, the team had just one victory in four matches and did not score goals in the last three games, against Bolívar (BOL) and Peñarol.

TITE FIRED?

Despite the pressure Regarding Tite, Flamengo's board does not plan to fire him immediately. The coach will be evaluated in the next games against Athletico-PR, in the Brasileirão, and Corinthians, in the Copa do Brasil. If they achieve positive results, they could gain the opportunity to continue until the end of the season.

FLAMENGO'S NEXT GAME

After the elimination, Flamengo seeks to recover in the Brasileirão facing Athletico- PR. Currently, Rubro-Negro occupies fourth place, with 45 points, 11 behind leader Botafogo. The clash is scheduled for Sunday (29), starting at 8pm (Brasília time), at Maracanã.

Flamengo's early elimination from the Libertadores caused a series of damages to the club. In addition to postponing the tetra's dream, Rubro-Negro also faced financial difficulties. Among the sporting goals established for the season was the objective of reaching the Libertadores semi-final.

The expectation was also to finish, at least, in second place in the Brasileirão. Currently, with one game in hand, Flamengo is 11 points behind leader Botafogo and eight behind vice-leader Palmeiras. To mitigate the financial loss, it is crucial that Flamengo reaches the final of the Copa do Brasil, the only competition in which the club has met its sporting goals so far.

In the program “Finanças do Esporte”, the journalist Rodrigo Mattos, from UOL, detailed Flamengo's possibilities for gains and losses this season.

“If it reaches the final (of the Copa do Brasil), it makes up for what happened in the Libertadores, it even surpasses it. But I would need this classification for the final. Otherwise, you have to make compensation, sell a little more player because it's an impact of R$12.5 million, plus the box office that you also estimate. Flamengo in the Libertadores semi-final is worth R$4 or 5 million in revenue”, said Rodrigo.

Flamengo raised less than Fluminense and São Paulo in the Libertadores

< With the elimination against Peñarol, Flamengo stopped collecting R$12.5 million. If he had become champion, the total prize pool in the competition would have reached R$137.5 million. Thus, the search for the third consecutive final of the Copa do Brasil becomes even more crucial, as the club would receive R$31.5 million. If they won the title, this amount could rise to R$73.5 million.

Having played one less match than their competitors, Flamengo ended their participation in the Libertadores with R$37.7 million in revenue, while Fluminense and São Paulo raised R$39.5 million each.

Fans of Flamengo who were eager to watch the games against Bolívar in the round of 16 of the Copa Libertadores will have to adjust their plans. TV Globo decided not to broadcast these matches on open TV, opting to focus on the games between Palmeiras and Botafogo.

Flamengo's two matches against Bolívar will be broadcast exclusively on ESPN channels and the STAR+ streaming platform. This decision marks a significant change in the way fans will have access to the games of one of the most popular teams in Brazil.

FLAMENGO WILL HAVE A "CLOSED" GAME ON TV 

TV Globo, which traditionally shows important Libertadores games on Open TVa, decided to broadcast the clashes between Palmeiras and Botafogo. This choice is a reflection of the broadcaster's strategy to diversify its audience and meet the different interests of football fans across the country.

This change could be a challenge for many Flamengo fans who do not have access to TV pay or streaming services. Traditionally, Flamengo's decisive games in the Libertadores attract a large audience on open TV, but this time, fans will have to turn to other platforms to avoid missing a single play.