At a meeting of the Arbitration Council on Tuesday afternoon, the Rio de Janeiro State Federation (FSERJ) decided to hold the State Championship, the state's main interclub futsal competition. Promoted by the Rio de Janeiro Futsal Federation, the competition will feature a number of new features in 2010. Chief among them is that, for the first time in two decades, the competition will be extended throughout the entire season, lasting eight months.

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The clubs and the Federation have decided that the State Championship will have a maximum of 10 participants, six of which have already been confirmed: Poker/PEC, from Petrópolis; USS, from Vassouras; Macaé Sports; Cabo Frio Futsal and ADDP, both from Cabo Frio; and Flamengo. Two other clubs have already expressed interest in participating in the tournament: Vasco da Gama and Clube Comary, from Teresópolis.

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Due to the change in the calendar formula – until last year, the Federation promoted two competitions per module in each season – the Federation extended the confirmation deadline to the 23rd of this month, when the Ordinary General Assembly called by the entity to discuss general matters, reforms to the statute, general regulations and championship regulations ends.

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The formula suggested by the clubs guarantees their continued operation at least until the end of October. The State Championship will be played in three phases: the first, divided into two or three stages, depending on the number of participating clubs, plus the semifinal and final stages.

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Flamengo - The board and coaching staff are still trying to finalize the Flamengo squad by the end of this week. Training has already begun at the Hélio Maurício Gymnasium, and so far, goalkeeper Rafael Pazos, defensive linemen Wallace and Pablo, winger Pedro, and pivot Gabriel have been confirmed. Cazuza, formerly of Vassouras, has also arrived. Michel Marques and Magrão are negotiating their stay. Jaxwel, Silva, and Arthur are no longer playing for the club and will play for Petrópolis this season.

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"We are still talking to the majority of the group. We are waiting for a response from Vitor (Magrão), Michel, Panazio, Gustavo, who played for América last season, but I believe that in the next few days we will have some news," noted Fla coach Cid Escarlate.