What happened
In a move that underscored the deepening rift within Libra, Palmeiras president Leila Pereira suggested a provocative path forward: forming a new league that would exclude Flamengo. The remarks came during an interview with Esporte Record, with a cut of the interview later published by Portal R7 on Instagram. The full material is expected to air on Sunday.
Transcripted in part, Pereira argued that football in Brazil should not be dominated by a single club and that there is a need to reconsider alliances within the sport. She did not name individuals, but her critique targeted what she called a “mentality” among some managers that she believes harms the game. Pereira’s comments added fuel to a debate that has split principals at some of the country’s biggest clubs.
As she framed it, the highlight of the idea was not merely to punish Flamengo but to spark a conversation about “a league that excludes Flamengo,” with the tongue-in-cheek suggestion that Flamengo could compete against itself. Pereira stressed that no single club is larger than Brazilian football and that the sport should be built on collective, democratic decisions rather than the will of one group of executives.
The Libra context: why this matters
The backdrop to Pereira’s remarks is Libra’s ongoing confrontation with Flamengo over TV-right distributions. Libra, which includes Atlético-MG, Bahia, Flamengo, Grêmio, Palmeiras, Red Bull Bragantino, São Paulo, Santos and Vitória in its lineup, has been fighting a court battle in Rio de Janeiro. A court-ordered injunction in Flamengo’s favor has blocked part of the installment payments of the Brasileirão’s TV rights. If the injunction holds through the end of the year, roughly R$ 230 million could be frozen, with R$ 77 million already held up.
Club officials view Flamengo’s legal action as a lever to push for changes in how distribution is calculated, arguing that the current model benefits some clubs more than others. Flamengo, for its part, maintains that legal channels are the appropriate path to resolve a dispute that has dragged on for about ten months. Libra has argued that it will continue defending the legitimacy of its collective decisions and the contracts in force, reiterating its commitment to the interests of its members.
What Pereira’s comments mean for the league’s future
Leila Pereira’s remarks, whether seen as a bold provocation or a strategic signaling, highlight a broader question: can Brazil’s top clubs sustain a single, unified league while disagreements over revenue distribution persist? The idea of a separate league—while extremely unlikely to become reality in the near term—serves as a powerful symbol of the tensions inside Libra and the fragility of the current alliance among Brazil’s biggest teams.
Analysts say the move could backfire, potentially fragmenting the market and confusing fans who want a stable, competitive calendar. Still, Pereira’s comments force a reckoning about governance in Brazilian football and whether the current framework adequately represents the interests of all clubs, not just the most powerful. The dialogue around the distribution formula, audience measurement, and revenue sharing will likely continue to shape decisions in the coming months.
What happens next
Legally, Libra has signaled it will continue to pursue its course, defending the legitimacy of its collective choices. The league has stressed that it will not shy away from the courtroom if required to protect the agreements on which its members rely. For fans, sponsors, and broadcasters, the unfolding legal battle will influence scheduling, broadcast windows, and the overall competitiveness of the Brasileirão.
As the Sunday airing approaches, observers will be watching for more explicit positions from other clubs and for any shift in Libra’s negotiating tactics. The conversation around a possible restructuring—whether in the form of altered distribution criteria, a rebalanced voting process, or, less likely, a redefined collaboration framework—will continue to anchor Brazilian football’s political landscape in the immediate future.
Conclusion
Leila Pereira’s remarks are a microcosm of a larger struggle within Libra: how to reconcile strong club autonomy with a shared, national project. While the idea of a league excluding Flamengo may be more about signaling than strategy, it underscores the urgent need for transparent governance and consensus-building in Brazilian football. Until there is clearer consensus, the debate over how best to distribute wealth, preserve competition, and maintain fans’ trust will persist.
