Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) President Samir Xaud is reportedly strengthening his position inside the entity through his handling of football's response to the betting ban.
Xaud has sided with clubs in opposing the measure. According to national reports, this has earned him support among club leaders. A reelection bid in 2029 is now said to be discussed in private conversations, after a single term had previously been assumed.
Recently, CBF Vice-President Michelle Ramalho has also defended the regulated betting sector, arguing licensed operators are being unfairly linked to match-fixing and gambling harm.
The reports also describe friction around the Ministry of Sport's meeting with clubs. The CBF says it acted jointly with the clubs and directed the ministry's call to them.
The reports, however, say Xaud prioritized election disputes in Roraima and would not have traveled to Brasília to hear the Federal Government's proposal, with the confederation sending another representative instead.
Clubs mobilized to attend regardless. Atlético-MG, Internacional and Corinthians were among those keen to hear an offer, with Corinthians' President reportedly already at the airport.
The Federal Government then postponed the meeting after failing to inform the Finance Ministry about a debt recovery plan for clubs, which would run through Caixa, the state-owned bank, or BNDES, Brazil's national development bank.
Before the ban, the confederation was also seeking Copa do Brasil advertisers directly and accepting only one betting operator as sponsor.
The future of the ban remains uncertain, with Federal Government and opposition senators divided over what to do with Provisional Measure (MP) 1,394/2026.
Brazil's top-flight football resumes this week with betting operators removed from shirts, stadiums and other commercial spaces
