Boca Juniors displayed Betsson branding on its shirt during a match against Vasco at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracanã stadium, despite Brazil’s federal ban on betting advertising.
The Argentinian club, which has a sponsorship agreement with Betsson, wore the brand during the Copa Sudamericana fixture. Brazilian clubs, meanwhile, have been required to remove betting operators from their shirts following the introduction of Provisional Measure 1,394/2026.
The contrast has raised questions about how the restrictions apply to international competitions played in Brazil, particularly when visiting clubs have sponsorship agreements established abroad.
According to legal experts, sporting sanctions against Boca Juniors are considered unlikely. The Copa Sudamericana is organized by CONMEBOL rather than Brazil’s Superior Court of Sports Justice, while Boca’s sponsorship agreement was signed in Argentina, where betting is legal under a different regulatory framework.
However, the display of the brand on Brazilian territory could still prompt scrutiny over compliance with national advertising rules, including potential action by consumer protection authorities.
Legal specialists have also argued that the agreement’s foreign origin does not automatically exempt its display from Brazilian law. While Brazil cannot exercise extraterritorial jurisdiction to terminate contracts signed abroad, sporting entities operating within the country remain subject to its domestic rules.
The issue extends beyond individual clubs. CONMEBOL maintains an institutional partnership with Betano through the end of 2028, although the agreement does not involve displaying the brand on shirts in its club competitions.
The changing regulatory landscape could prompt further scrutiny of South American football’s financial reliance on betting sponsorships.
The restrictions also prevent Brazilian clubs from simply resuming betting sponsorship agreements, including for matches played overseas
