Flamengo has secured another victory in the dispute over the Taça de Bolinhas (Brazilian Championship trophy). The 15th Civil Court of the Federal Justice of São Paulo denied São Paulo Futebol Clube's appeal in the lawsuit seeking repossession of the trophy and ratified the decision of the Rio de Janeiro court that obliged the São Paulo team to return the trophy to Caixa Econômica Federal (Brazilian Federal Savings Bank).

In January, the 18th Civil Chamber of Rio de Janeiro had already denied the appeal filed by the São Paulo team against the decision to return the trophy. São Paulo only handed over the Taça das Bolinhas (Ball Trophy) to Caixa Econômica in May, after the 50th Civil Court of Rio de Janeiro authorized the use of police force to remove the trophy from Morumbi Stadium.

Flamengo now depends on the outcome of a legal process underway in the Federal Court of Pernambuco, which concerns the recognition of their 1987 Brazilian championship title, shared with Sport Recife.

"After the victory in the Rio de Janeiro courts, the victory in São Paulo is quite significant for the positive outcome of the process. I am very optimistic that the Recife courts will follow the decisions of the São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro courts so that the trophy can go to Gávea. I believe that everything will be resolved by the end of the year. There's no way São Paulo can appeal and win this," said Flamengo's legal vice-president, Rafael de Piro.