CBF launches financial restructuring support programme for Série B clubs

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CBF launches financial restructuring support programme for Série B clubs

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Arbitral Council meeting brought major news for Série B, such as PARF-B and the creation of playoffsCredits: Rafael Ribeiro / CBF

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) announced, during the Série B Arbitral Council meeting this Thursday (5), 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 entity’s financial support to the clubs’ commitment to financial responsibility and good management practices. During the meeting, the creation of “playoffs” between the teams finishing the competition in 3rd to 6th place was also decided.

CBF gave yet another concrete demonstration of valuing its products with the announcement of PARF-B, a move that ensures financial stability and competitive balance for this year’s edition of Série B. Through the program, CBF confirms that it will continue to fully fund logistics expenses (transport and accommodation), anti-doping tests, and refereeing fees for the competition.

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

For CBF president Samir Xaud, the outcome of the meeting was as expected by both CBF and the clubs. “It was a very productive meeting. We are rebuilding our championships. It’s a product that was undervalued and we are working on increasing its value. We reached a common denominator, found a way to enhance our product, to value it even more and help the clubs, thinking about their financial health as a whole, reaching a management model that we are implementing here at CBF. Nothing could be fairer than CBF continuing to help the clubs financially, covering some expenses, but in return the clubs must show this financial control,” said Xaud.

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

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

Among club representatives, the outcome of the Arbitral Council meeting brought a sense of renewal to Série B. Guilherme Bellintani, owner of Londrina’s SAF, believes that the combination of a new competition format and the requirement of fiscal and financial responsibility from the clubs represents a prosperous path for Série B.

“I think Série B leaves here absolutely renewed. The change in the competition model, including the playoffs, means that even until the last moment of the competition, the middle of the table will still be fighting for promotion. This is very positive, I think the public wins, the fans win, the clubs win. And regarding each club’s finances, especially, what we see is a somewhat unprecedented movement at CBF, which is to sustain the process of financing logistics, a historic procedure in the relationship between clubs and CBF, but to move forward in this sense, making it conditional on compliance with the first rules of Financial Fair Play,” he said.

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

The creation of PARF-B and the balance the measure will bring to the competition was also praised by Náutico and São Bernardo, clubs that were already supported by signing a commercial agreement directly with CBF, but who also showed support for 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 CBF brought an intelligent solution, which fosters competition. That is, it’s not a decision that leaves clubs without support. Once again, it’s a situation where everyone wins, CBF wins and football wins, because everything, in the end, will be directed to this issue of the manager’s responsibility with Financial Fair Play,” said Náutico president Bruno Becker.

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Bruno Becker, president of Náutico, believes that 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 the round-robin, 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 promotion spots will be decided at the end of home-and-away matches, with the 3rd place team facing the 6th, and the 4th facing 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 cherry on top of today’s meeting, with the implementation of the Playoff. Starting this year in Série B, the clubs that finish third to sixth, that is, these four clubs, will play two matches, home and away, to determine the last two clubs that will be promoted along with the first and second place in the overall standings to Série A in 2027,” said Julio Avellar, CBF’s competitions director.

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CBF competitions director Julio Avellar believes the changes defined at the meeting can bring greater commercial possibilities to Série BCredits: Rafael Ribeiro / CBF

Another major change was the clubs’ decision to alter the initial calendar, which had planned a break during the World Cup period, to include Série B matches while the World Cup is taking place. 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 with preparation and physical recovery of the athletes, and even with the clubs’ logistics,” he concluded.

Excellence and Monitoring Criteria​

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 CBF Financial Sustainability System (SSF).

In addition to the system’s general rules, 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 regulations, to be published by CBF by the end of February.

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Guilherme Bellintani, from Londrina’s SAF, believes Série B was “renewed” with the meeting’s decisionsCredits: Rafael Ribeiro / CBF

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

The goal is to foster a safer business environment, where the resources saved by clubs through exemption from operational costs are effectively directed to settling liabilities and internal restructuring.

Rules for Remaining in the Program​

Joining the program is optional, but oversight will be continuous throughout the championship. If the regulatory agency identifies non-compliance with the management and governance requirements stipulated in the regulations, the club will be subject to exclusion from the program.

In this scenario of non-compliance, the club will immediately lose the CBF subsidy and will become solely responsible for paying its own logistics and refereeing costs until the end of the competition.

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

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