January 7 – Flamengo’s new year has began under a storm cloud. The Brazilian giants have not yet reached a rights agreement with TV Globo about the upcoming Rio state championship and, on Monday, Flamengo dismissed their director of football Paulo Pelaipe.
Flamengo conquered Brazil and South America in 2019, and played toe-to-toe with European champions Liverpool in the Club World Cup final in Doha.
At state level, the club is negotiating a new rights deal with TV Globo for the Carioca championship, but talks with the broadcaster have hit a roadblock. Flamengo’s deal with Globo ended last year and the club, given its 2019 success and exposure, want an improved deal going forward, even if they have indicated that they will start the competition with plenty of U-20 players in their squad.
If both parties fail to reach an agreement, the 12 smaller clubs in the Carioca championship are in danger of losing €3.9 million. The three other major Rio clubs – Botafogo, Vasco da Gama, and Fluminense – will have their TV income protected.
The Brazilian champions also fired their director of football Pelaipe on Monday, a sign of increasing political fractures and tensions in the boardroom. Pelaipe is the right-hand man of vice-president Marcos Braz, who had ordained that Pelaipe’s contract be extended in December, but CEO Reinaldo Belotti didn’t sign the extension.
The dismissal lays bare a political war between Braz and Luiz Eduardo Baptista, a vice-president of external relations. Pelaipe dealt with the day-to-day football affaires for Braz, but Baptista appointed Bruno Spindel as executive director last year to counter Braz’s influence.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1713593883labto1713593883ofdlr1713593883owedi1713593883sni@o1713593883fni1713593883