Top-flight soccer clubs in Brazil are one step closer to establishing a breakaway league following a U.S.-based private equity investment said to range between $750 million and $1 billion.
The group behind the new venture includes former ESPN executive Scott Guglielmino, Relevent Sports co-founder Charles Stillitano, sports lawyer Lawrence Magrath, and English Football League chairman Rick Parry.
“There have been failed attempts to realize a better league in the past,” Sao Paulo FC president Julio Casares told Sportico. “This time, the big difference is having a group of executives who come from the market with the experience.”
A breakaway league would replace Brazil’s current top-flight league, Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, which has struggled to serve the best interests of its clubs and players due to oversight by the Brazilian Football Federation, the country’s top soccer authority.
- The federation places the majority of its focus on the Brazilian national team.
- It forces clubs to participate in state tournaments.
- It’s created an 11-month season with no international breaks.
The new league would begin competition as soon as 2022 but is likely to “to kick off in 2023.” Its clubs would retain their broadcasting deal with Brazilian media giant TV Globo, which runs through 2024.
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