Flamengo's youth academy director participates in a hearing at the Sports Committee

Flamengo's youth academy director participates in a hearing at the Sports Commission

Carlos Noval, representatives of Brazilian clubs and the CBF discuss youth football

By - in 09/06/2016 às 13:23

On Wednesday (8), football clubs and CBF joined together in the Chamber of Deputies, in Brasília (DF), for a common goal: to discuss youth football. Erasmo Damiani, coordinator of the CBF youth categories, Carlos Noval, executive director of Flamengo's youth academy (which already holds the youth development club certificateRepresentatives from 19 other Brazilian teams participated in a public hearing at the Sports Committee.

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss football legislation regarding player development. One of the most debated topics was the beginning of the team/player relationship. Currently, in Brazil, players can only join a club from the age of 14 due to the Pelé Law. For FIFA, the minimum age for a team to be considered a "training club" in an athlete's career is 12 years.

The debate was opened for participation by the other coordinators present immediately after the speeches by the representatives of the official panel, composed of Erasmo Damiani, João Paulo Sampaio, and also the session's president, Fábio Mitidieri, and deputies Andrés Sanchez and Rogério Marinho.

"The hearing was very productive. We raised the points we considered most relevant to youth football and what we would like to see changed in the law regarding athlete development and club protection. As one of the founders of MFFB (Youth Football Development Movement), I was happy and hopeful about the progress of the topics discussed, leaving the general definition of the matter for a future meeting. Finally, I would like to especially thank Deputies Vicente Cândido, Otávio Leite, and the other deputies present for their initiative in listening to us and together building a better football for the future," said Noval.

In the end, there was a general consensus. The legislation needs to adapt, at least, to FIFA's minimum age of 12 years. The social function of the teams, with medical assistance, education, and psychological support for hundreds of young people, would have an even greater and more beneficial impact on society, in addition to the technical gains for football. In short, the clubs were given the responsibility of creating a Working Group to return to the Chamber with the aim of debating the General Law of Football.

See the list of participating clubs:

Carlos Noval - Flamengo

Sergio Lopes - Criciúma

Ronaldo Lima - Santos

Paulo Farenzena - Grêmio

Marcelo Vilhena - Atlético Paranaense

Marcelo Teixeira - Fluminense

Diogo Fernandes - Avaí

Claudinei Muza - Corinthians

Carlos Anunciação - Vitória

André Mazzuco - Red Bull

André Figueiredo - Atlético Mineiro