Libra Received Warning of Flawed TV rights Criteria Months Before Flamengo Dispute
rio de Janeiro – Libra, the organization managing the commercial rights for Brazil’s Serie A football league, was alerted too a important loophole in its audience-based TV rights distribution criteria several months before its highly publicized dispute with Flamengo, according to sources familiar with internal discussions. The warning came during a meeting in late 2023, raising questions about the league’s preparedness for potential legal challenges and the fairness of its revenue allocation system.
The issue centers on the lack of specific detail outlining how payments would be calculated based on audience share across different media platforms. While a basic agreement on audience criteria was reportedly signed in September 2024, the precise formula for translating viewership into revenue remained undefined. This ambiguity prompted concerns that the statute was vulnerable to legal contestation, perhaps impacting the distribution of considerable broadcast revenue among the league’s clubs.
According to two sources who were present or briefed on the conversation, Flavio Zveiter, a founding member of Libra who was then transitioning to his role as Vice-President of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), directly warned Libra President Julio casares (São Paulo) and then-General Secretary Raul Guerrero (CEO of Bahia) about the deficiency. zveiter reportedly explained that failing to finalize the criteria could lead to future legal challenges.
Despite the warning, no changes were made to the statute. Libra maintains that Flamengo approved the audience criteria, and alleges that CEO Silvio Matos was authorized to calculate payments. Though, sources indicate no formal documentation exists granting Matos the authority to create such a formula.The lack of a defined payment structure ultimately fueled the recent conflict with Flamengo, who questioned the fairness of their share of the TV revenue. The dispute highlights the ongoing tension between Libra and its member clubs over the implementation of the new broadcasting model and the potential for further legal battles if the underlying issues are not addressed.
