CBF unveils financial support scheme for Série B clubs

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) announced, during the Arbitral Council meeting of Série B this Thursday (5th), the creation of the Support Program for the Financial Restructuring of Série B Clubs (PARF-B). The initiative aims to strengthen the economic sustainability of the competition, linking the financial support of the entity to the clubs' commitment to financial responsibility and good management practices. During the meeting, the creation of "playoffs" among the teams finishing the competition in the 3rd to 6th positions was also defined.

The CBF gave another concrete demonstration of valuing its products with the announcement of PARF-B, an announcement that guarantees financial tranquility and competitive balance for this year's edition of Série B. Through the program, the CBF confirms that it will continue to fully finance logistics expenses (transport and accommodation), anti-doping tests, and arbitration fees for the competition.

However, from this season onwards, the maintenance of this benefit will be strictly conditioned to the fulfillment of a series of requirements that are part of the framework of the Financial Sustainability System (Financial Fair Play) created by the CBF, demanding in return collaboration and transparency from the clubs.

The president of CBF, Samir Xaud, celebrated the outcome of the meeting, which gave growth prospects for Série BCredits: Rafael Ribeiro / CBF

For the president of CBF, Samir Xaud, the outcome of the meeting was as expected by both the CBF and the clubs. “It was a very productive meeting. We are in a reconstruction of our championships. It is a product that was undervalued and we are working on this appreciation. We reached a common denominator, we found a way to enhance our product, to further value it and help the clubs, thinking about their financial health as a whole, reaching a management model that we are implementing here at CBF. It is only fair that the CBF continues to help the clubs financially, covering some expenses, but in return, the clubs must show this financial control,” said Xaud.

According to the vice-president of CBF, Gustavo Henrique Dias, the measure, studied by the CBF's technical body, demonstrates responsibility on the part of CBF with its affiliates. “The CBF will always seek the best for its affiliates and the best for the competition. We want to correct past mistakes and try to pave a path for this competition to be valued. It is a competition that the public likes, which is highly contested. We are very happy with the meeting,” said Dias.

For the vice-president of CBF, Gustavo Henrique Dias, the entity once again demonstrated responsibility towards the affiliated clubsCredits: Rafael Ribeiro / CBF

Among the club representatives, the outcome of the Arbitral Council meeting brought a sense of renewal to Série B. Guilherme Bellintani, owner of SAF Londrina, believes that the union between a new competition formula and the obligation of fiscal and financial responsibility of the clubs represents a prosperous path for Série B.

“I think Série B comes out of here absolutely renewed. The change in the competition model, including the playoffs, ensures that until the last moment of the competition, the middle of the table continues to compete for access. This is very positive, I think the public wins, the fans win, the clubs win. And regarding the finances of each club, especially, what we see is a somewhat unprecedented movement in the CBF, which is to sustain the logistics financing process, a historical procedure of the clubs' relationship with the CBF, but to advance in this sense, conditioning this to the fulfillment of the first rules of Financial Fair Play,” he said.

Guilherme Bellintani, from SAF Londrina, believes that Série B was "renewed" with the decisions of the meetingCredits: Rafael Ribeiro / CBF

The creation of PARF-B and the balance that the measure will bring to the competition was also praised by Náutico and São Bernardo, clubs that were already supported by the signing of a commercial agreement directly with the CBF, but also showed themselves in favor of the measure, in favor of a more equitable competition.

“The biggest dilemma was the issue of the two blocks that formed in Série B, which were Náutico and São Bernardo, the other 18 clubs, and the logistics issue. And the CBF brought an intelligent solution, which fosters the competition. In other words, it is not a decision that leaves the clubs without this support. Once again, it is a situation where everyone wins, the CBF wins, and football wins, because everything, in the end, will direct towards this issue of the manager's responsibility with Financial Fair Play,” said the president of Náutico, Bruno Becker.

Bruno Becker, president of Náutico, considers that the CBF brought an intelligent solution for this year's Série B seasonCredits: Rafael Ribeiro / CBF

Competition Format

Another major novelty is the change in the competition format, with the creation of a "playoffs" system at the end of the 38 rounds of round-robin matches, involving the four clubs positioned from 3rd to 6th place. With the proposal, approved by a majority of votes from the club representatives present, the two remaining access spots will be defined at the end of home-and-away matches, with the 3rd place facing the 6th, and the 4th competing against the 5th.

“Seeking possibilities to create greater commercial value, greater attractiveness for the Série B competition, we proposed for debate and voting among the 20 clubs present at the Council meeting, the icing on the cake of today's meeting, with the implementation of the Playoff. From this year in Série B, the clubs that finished third to sixth, that is, these four clubs, will play two matches, home and away, to determine the last two clubs that will rise along with the first and second placed in the overall classification to Série A in the year 2027,” said Julio Avellar, CBF's competition director.

CBF's competition director, Julio Avellar, argues that the changes defined in the meeting can bring greater commercial possibilities for Série BCredits: Rafael Ribeiro / CBF

Another major change was the decision of the clubs to alter the initial calendar, which provided for a break during the World Cup period, to include Série B matches while the World Cup is happening. For Avellar, this measure can increase the technical level of the competition.

“With this, we will be able to space out the games more, which increases the technical level, helps in preparation and physical recovery of the athletes and even in the logistics of the clubs,” he concluded.

Excellence Criteria and Monitoring

The PARF-B is being designed to reward responsible management and transparency. To remain in the program and enjoy the coverage of operational expenses, clubs must meet the requirements of the new Financial Sustainability System (SSF) of the CBF.

In addition to the general rules of the system, participants must observe new specific performance and compliance indicators, focused on solvency, management modernization, and transparency. The technical details of these indicators will be presented in their own regulation, to be disclosed by the CBF by the end of February.

The monitoring of the indicators and the audit of the information provided will be the responsibility of the National Agency for Football Regulation and Sustainability (ANRESF), an independent institution created by the CBF specifically for the supervision and management of the entity's Financial Fair Play.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.