Carioca and Paulista stop play as covid-19 spreads in Brazil
March 17 – The state federations of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo have suspended their state championships following the CBF’s decision on Sunday to postpone matches indefinitely.
South America
Coronavirus: CBF acts after Brazilian clubs complain at being forced to play
March 16 – Following club protests, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has suspended all national football competitions for an indefinite period, but the state federations control the immediate future of state championships that dominate the domestic calendar until the end of April.
Coronavirus: South American World Cup qualifiers off, Copa Libertadores suspended
March 13 – FIFA has postponed this month’s South American World Cup qualifiers amid Coronavirus concerns. Conmebol had requested the postponement.
Conmebol asks for suspension of 2020 qualifiers over fear players will be stuck in Europe
March 12 – South American governing body Conmebol has called on FIFA to postpone this month’s World Cup qualifiers on the continent due to the Coronavirus outbreak.
Ronaldinho remains in Paraguayan jail as police probe widens
March 9 – Ronaldinho’s Paraguayan nightmare is not at an end yet. On Sunday, the local prosecutor said that the former player will remain in jail as the investigation widens to investigate potential other crimes.
Flamengo title wins drive Brazilian giant to record $200m+ revenue
March 6 – Flamengo, boosted by winning their national and continental crowns, are set to report a record revenue of 959 million reias ($208 million) in 2019, according to an internal club report that will be submitted to an auditor.
Paraguayan police question Ronaldinho over fake passport
March 5 – Former Brazil and Barcelona star Ronaldinho is being investigated by police in Paraguay for allegedly using a false passport to enter the country.
Uruguay’s Valdez handed year ban by FIFA Ethics
February 26 – Despite efforts to shake off its tarnished image, Conmebol has been rocked by yet more scandal after its former FIFA Council member Wilmar Valdez (pictured) was banned for one year for breaking his duty of loyalty.
Juninho continues at CBF after conflict of interest issues with Ituano player profits ruled out
February 24 – The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has retained Juninho Paulista as national team coordinator after a conflict of interest arose over Paulista’s ties with Sao Paulo club Ituano.
Rio prosecutor tells Flamengo to increase compensation to families over fire deaths
February 17 – Rio de Janeiro’s public prosecutor and the state’s public ministry have demanded greater compensation from Flamengo for the families of the ten youth players who perished in a fire at the club’s training complex last year. The fire will no longer be treated as a ‘collective accident’.
UEFA and Conmebol buddy up for referee and new competition talks
February 13 – UEFA has renewed its Memorandum of Understanding with South American confederation Conmebol covering collaboration across a number of areas from education to refereeing and new competitions.
Pele too ‘embarrassed’ by ill health to make public appearances
February 11 – The world’s most famous footballer, Pele, has become a virtual recluse according to his son because he cannot walk unaided.
Flamengo shuts victims’ families out of remembrance events
February 10 – On Saturday, on the first anniversary of the fatal fire at Flamengo’s training complex that killed 10 youth players, the Rio club excluded families of the victims from participating in remembrance events. Flamengo fans today will protest at the club’s headquarter to express their disapproval.
Brazil squeeze through qualifiers to defend Olympic title in Japan
February 10 – Defending champions Brazil have qualified for the Olympic Games in Tokyo this summer after overcoming rivals Argentina 3-0 in a crunch qualifier. The Argentineans had already booked their ticket.
Flamengo’s grieving families go uncompensated as club rakes in record revenues
By Samindra Kunti
February 7 – A year after the fatal fire at the Ninho do Urubu, Flamengo’s training centre, the families of seven victims remain entangled in a legal battle over compensation.