Pelé's company charged the red-black club around R$20 million

Fred Gomes

Throw

On the day it celebrates its 112th anniversary, Flamengo received a new gift: the club was freed, this Wednesday, from a lawsuit filed by the company Pelé Sports, which had been judged by the common courts since 2002. The company of the Athlete of the Century asked for around R$20 million from Rubro-Negro, claiming the right to negotiate the club's broadcasting rights in the now-defunct Mercosul Cup, which was held from 1998 to 2001.

"Flamengo granted Pelé Sports the television rights to the Supercopa dos Campeões—a competition that has also been discontinued and which involved clubs that have already won the Libertadores. Pelé Sports claimed that Flamengo should pay around R$20 million for the Mercosul broadcasting rights, but this competition is completely separate from the Supercopa," explained Michel Asseff Filho, legal director of Flamengo's football department and who represented the club in the case.

Asseff also explained that Rubro-Negro did not receive broadcasting rights for the Mercosul Cup, stating that these were exclusive to Conmebol.

"Flamengo received payment for participation in Mercosul Cup matches, not for granted rights. This right belonged exclusively to the federation," he explained.

In the Super Cup, Flamengo was runner-up in 1993 and 1995. The Mercosul Cup was lifted by the club in 1999, after a 3-3 draw and a 4-3 victory in the final against Palmeiras.