Brazilian footballers demand image rights from betting companies
Professional football players in Brazil have raised their voices this week before the Permanent Subcommittee on the Regulation of Sports Betting of the Sports Commission of the Chamber of Deputies, denouncing that they do not receive payments for image rights as required by law in the context of sports betting. The session, chaired by Deputy Caio Vianna (PSD-RJ), served as a platform for the players to express their dissatisfaction with the current situation.
Vianna supported the athletes' complaints, emphasizing that, despite being the main protagonists of the sector, they do not receive any financial compensation for the use of their image in betting. “Without athletes, there are no bets,” stressed the deputy, highlighting the importance of athletes receiving their fair share of the generated income. The debate also addressed the issue of revenues and economic losses that Brazil has experienced due to the lack of proper and timely regulation of the sports betting sector.
Giovanni Rocco, National Secretary of Sports Betting and Economic Development of the Ministry of Sports, intervened to highlight the need to create a permanent transparency commission between the Ministries of Sports and Finance. This commission would aim to ensure transparency in the transfer of funds to sports entities and allow effective government oversight. Rocco explained that, in the early years of the operation of betting houses in Brazil, the absence of supervision and control allowed them to absorb the entirety of the investment in Brazilian football.
Currently, national football depends almost entirely on resources coming from betting houses, and the value of these investments has multiplied at least fivefold in recent years. Therefore, the secretary insisted that the debate on advertising and sports financing must be responsible and mature, to prevent the sport from being harmed by inadequate regulation. The allocation of resources from betting is a central concern for the Ministry of Sports.
Rocco emphasized that compensation to athletes must be adequate, as part of a comprehensive strategy to address the challenges and problems arising from the expansion of sports betting in the country. Additionally, he demanded clear answers for society regarding the destination and management of these funds.
The debate in the subcommittee is part of a broader analysis of the perspectives and challenges of sports financing in Brazil, with special attention to the entities that make up the National Sports System and that receive resources linked to lotteries and betting.
Deputy Caio Vianna, representative of Rio de Janeiro, explained that the goal of these discussions is to propose solutions that guarantee the continuity and sustainability of public sports policies in the country, ensuring that resources reach those entitled in a fair and transparent manner.
Tags: Brasil, sports betting, betting houses, professional footballers