Nine Brazilian Serie A teams are behind on player salaries
The financial landscape of Brazilian soccer presents a concerning paradox: while club revenues reach record levels, indebtedness is also growing exponentially. A recent analysis revealed that half of the teams in the Brazilian Championship’s Serie A are facing delays in paying salaries, image rights, or bonuses to their athletes.
The survey highlights that the defaulting clubs are part of the group known as the country’s “big” teams. Names such as Atlético-MG, Botafogo, Corinthians, Fluminense, Grêmio, Inter, São Paulo, Santos, and Vasco are on the list of teams with financial pending issues with their players.
The Situation of Defaulting and Compliant Clubs
The list of clubs that strictly comply with their financial obligations includes Athletico-PR, Bahia, Chapecoense, Coritiba, Cruzeiro, Flamengo, Mirassol, Palmeiras, Red Bull, and Remo. Vitória, initially mentioned, clarified that its pending issues are of a litigious and specific nature with goalkeeper Gabriel Vasconcelos, assuring that regular salaries are being paid in advance.
Impact of Debts and International Punishments
The severity of the debts is reflected in international punishments. Botafogo, for example, accumulated seven sanctions from Fifa for debts exceeding R$ 200 million, managing to overturn the penalties after its SAF entered judicial recovery. Corinthians is currently facing three transfer bans, and São Paulo and Santos are also suffering similar restrictions due to non-compliance in past signings.
In Serie B, the situation is not much different, with 11 out of 20 teams presenting delays. The Fair Play Financeiro agency, implemented in 2026, is still seeking to consolidate its impact to balance the clubs’ accounts. Notorious cases such as that of striker Tiquinho Soares, who obtained judicial termination for months without receiving payment, and Corinthians‘ debt of nearly R$ 45 million to Memphis, highlight the financial complexity plaguing Brazilian soccer.
By Equipe M360
