Representatives from 13 of the main clubs in Brazilian football met this Thursday at the headquarters of Clube de Regatas do Flamengo, in Gávea, Rio de Janeiro, and took an important step towards the modernization of Brazilian football with the signing of the Constitution Act and the Statutes of the Sul-Minas-Rio League. By acclamation, Gilvan de Pinho Tavares, president of Cruzeiro Esporte Clube, was elected to preside over the entity.
 
The newly founded league represents an important step forward in relations between the clubs and reinforces the need for the clubs, the true promoters of the sport, to have greater relevance and authority in discussing the future of Brazilian football. With the establishment of the League, new challenges arise, including regulating and organizing the first competition for 2016.
 
The following clubs are signatories to the Articles of Incorporation of the Sul-Minas-Rio League: Clube de Regatas do Flamengo, Fluminense Football Club, Cruzeiro Esporte Clube, Clube Atlético Mineiro, Sport Club Internacional, Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense, Clube Atlético Paranaense, Coritiba Foot Ball Club, Joinville Esporte Clube, Avaí Futebol Clube, Figueirense Futebol Clube, Criciúma Esporte Clube, and Associação Chapecoense de Futebol.
 
Rio de Janeiro, September 10 of 2015