Flamengo and Fluminense used their Sunday derby at Rio’s Maracanã stadium to protest the Federal Government’s provisional measure banning betting, wearing the slogan “Banning isn’t protecting” on their shirts.
The match was in round 30 of the Brazilian Championship.
The shirts are part of a campaign led by the National Association of Games and Lotteries and the Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming against the measure, which Brazilian President Lula signed on September 25.
The same message appeared on advertising boards in nine matches in the previous round. In a statement, the associations said the aim is to draw “attention to the impacts of the ban on regulated betting houses in the country” and to warn of “the advance of clandestine platforms, which operate outside the rules of oversight and bettor protection.”
Flamengo first wore the slogan against Santos last Thursday, placing it in the central shirt space normally reserved for its main sponsor.
Fluminense President Mattheus Montenegro announced the joint action the same day, saying the initiative came from Superbet and Betano, the main sponsors of Fluminense and Flamengo respectively.
After the derby, Fluminense will return to displaying Superscore, Superbet’s independent statistics supplier, on its shirts.
The protest also reached the stands, with Flamengo supporters unfurling three banners in a section of the Maracanã’s north stand backing the message.
Recently, at least 23 Brazilian football clubs asked the Supreme Federal Court (STF) to join legal proceedings challenging the ban.
The Brazilian Championship returned without betting brands on team shirts, advertising boards, pitch-side materials, backdrops or other commercial properties
