Galinho criticizes São Paulo and CBF directors for ignoring the 1987 red-black title

GLOBOESPORTE.COM

Zico leading Fenerbahce against PSV in the Champions League. Zico entered the controversy surrounding São Paulo's fifth title. The São Paulo club maintains it was the first to achieve the feat, disregarding the Copa União title the club won in 1987—a title not recognized by the CBF. "Galinho" harshly criticized the Tricolor's directors for fueling the dispute.

"I think this whole story about São Paulo being the first five-time champion is a complete farce. Not for the club, which won titles on the field and deserves all the respect because it won this year handily. The problem is that this mess, as usual, was created by the directors, and now the São Paulo team's directors are fueling this nonsense," he says.

"At the time, there was a dispute between the Club of 13, which had the president of São Paulo as its coordinator, and the CBF. This dispute off the field led to this: a team that won the first division having to play against teams from the second. And Guarani and Sport also played a shoddy final. Therefore, I think this is all completely nonsense and disrespectful to the fans," he criticizes.

Zico also criticized the CBF for not confirming Flamengo as the first Brazilian penta.

"Everyone knows that the CBF doesn't recognize Flamengo due to political disputes. But we, the players, not the directors, won the 1987 title on the field, through sweat, defeating great opponents, and in the final, Inter, who were a worthy rival. That's what matters. The fans know it, the press knows it. Titles are won on the field, not by the stroke of a pen by people who made history by changing regulations and adopting attitudes that almost never benefited football," he says.