Santos bounce back to Brazil’s Serie A, while club talks of possible Neymar return
November 12 – Pelé’s old club Santos have confirmed their return to the Brazilian top flight after gaining an insurmountable lead in the Serie B.
South America
Peruvian FA boss Agustín Lozano arrested for blackmailing local clubs
November 11 – Peruvian police have arrested the head of the country’s FA, Agustín Lozano, as part of an investigation into allegations that he abused his position to extort local clubs into surrendering their television rights.
Luis wastes no time winning silverware with Flamengo as final marred by post-match fighting
November 11 – On Sunday, manager Filipe Luis’s Flamengo side claimed the Brazilian Cup with a 4-1 aggregate victory against Atlético Mineiro. It was a final that descended into chaos after the final whistle as Mineiro fans fought with security.
Police raid 12 addresses linked to Flamengo’s Bruno Henrique in spot-fixing probe
November 8 – Flamengo’s Bruno Henrique has been included in the latest Brazilian police swoop of individuals suspected of matchfixing.
Flying pig’s head lands on pitch during Palmeiras-Corinthians derby
November 6 – Games between Sao Paulo rivals, Corinthians and Palmeiras, in the Brazilian championship are heated at the best of times, however at the weekend, Corinthians fans took a page out of the Barcelona playbook by throwing a pig’s head on to the pitch.
Gabigol’s double gives Flamengo edge over Atletico Mineiro for second leg of Copa do Brasil
November 4 – Flamengo are on course to win the Brazilian Cup after defeating Atletico Mineiro 3-1 with two goals from striker Gabigol in the first leg of the final at the Maracana.
Copa Libertadores stays Brazilian with Botafogo beating Penarol to set up Atletico Mineiro final
October 31 – Once again, the Copa Libertadores final will be all-Brazilian after Botafogo survived a scare against Penarol to win 6-3 on aggregate in Montevideo and set up a showpiece match against Atletico Mineiro in the competition’s final in November.
Copa Libertadores semi final switched to Uruguay’s Centenario Stadium for increased fan safety
October 30 – South American governing body Conmebol have moved the semi-final of the Copa Libertadores between Penarol and Botafogo to the Centenario Stadium to allow visiting supporters to attend the match.
Brazil dominate Copa Libertadores with Botafogo and Atletico Mineiro taking big semi-final leads
October 24 – Once again the Copa Libertadores is heading for an all-Brazilian final after Botafogo and Atletico Mineiro won the first legs of their semi-finals convincingly.
Coaching duo Cleber Xavier and Tite to part company
October 21 – After a 24-year-long partnership, Brazilian manager Tite and his assistant Cleber Xavier have parted ways with the latter choosing to pursue his own managerial ambitions.
Corinthians refuse to drop betting sponsor as gaps appear in Brazil licensing rules
October 16 – Brazil’s clubs are proving reluctant to give up their betting sponsors despite the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) saying it will enforce a ban on club sponsorship by bookmakers across all levels of Brazilian football who do not hold state betting licenses.
Brazil cracks down on unlicensed bookmakers’ club sponsorships
October 14 – The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said it will enforce a ban on club sponsorship by bookmakers across all levels of Brazilian football starting last Friday (11 October).
Maradona remains to be relocated to public mausoleum in Buenos Aries
October 3 – A court in Argentina has authorised plans for the relocation on “humanitarian and emotional” grounds of Diego Maradona’s remains from a private cemetery so they can be placed at a public mausoleum under construction in Buenos Aires.
SmartSoft track Argentina’s rise in popularity with renewed deal focussed on Europe
September 20 – The Argentine Football Association (AFA) has confirmed the renewal and expanded its partnership with online casino games supplier SmartSoft, elevating the brand to the role of regional sponsor in Europe.
Homicide trial of Maradona’s medical team pushed into 2025
September 13 – A trial of eight health workers charged with “homicide by negligence” over the death of Diego Maradona has been postponed again, this time from October until March.