Facing the impossibility of using Maracanã and Engenhão stadiums in 2016, Clube de Regatas do Flamengo and Fluminense Football Club requested the CBF in 2015 to choose and define two stadiums, one considered their home stadium and the other considered a joint home stadium, in one or two Brazilian states, to host their home stadiums. Following the lack of an official response last year, a new letter was sent to the CBF in January of this year.

On Friday, February 26th, it was with absolute disbelief and outrage that Clube de Regatas do Flamengo received the information that its request had been unjustifiably denied. Faced with such a regrettable fact, Clube de Regatas do Flamengo states that:

• No plausible argument justifies such arbitrariness, given that there is currently no stadium capable of holding Flamengo fans in the State of Rio de Janeiro.

• As previously stated, Flamengo has been waiting for a response from the CBF for months. We are surprised by this refusal, since the entity had given us technical and legal approval, signaling acceptance of the request.

• Flamengo is forced to believe that this change in stance is linked to the hosting of the Primeira Liga and the obvious discomfort that the success of this friendly tournament causes the Rio de Janeiro State Federation, an ally of the CBF and responsible for hosting the State Championship. One need only compare the quality of the games and the number of spectators present at the respective matches.

• Flamengo believes the CBF should be concerned with increasing the average attendance at its official competitions. Forcing the club with the largest fan base in Brazil and the undisputed record holder for ticket sales in the competition to host its matches in stadiums with reduced capacity and less facilities, such as those currently available in the state of Rio de Janeiro, is a disservice to the fans and yet another regrettable depreciation of Brazilian football stemming from decisions made by those whose duty it is to protect the national sport.

• With this arbitrary decision, in which obscure political aspects took precedence over technical aspects, the CBF is affecting not only Flamengo, but all clubs, fans, sponsors who invest in Brazilian football and broadcast rights holders, who are now held hostage by an entity under suspicion.

Clube de Regatas do Flamengo hopes to have all clubs on its side in the fight against the bureaucratization that hinders the development of Brazilian football. And it will not bow down, nor remain silent, to the arbitrary decisions of anyone. 

Flamengo Regatta Club


Official letter sent to the CBF