- 6 November 2025
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CADE Investigates Gun-Jumping in the Formation of Soccer Leagues
In the first week of October, an inquiry into whether the formation of the so-called Liga Forte União (LFU) and the Brazilian Football League (Libra) should have been subject to CADE’s prior approval came to light. The investigations, initiated in 2023 by CADE’s General Superintendence (GS), focus on allegations of collective bargaining of commercial and broadcasting rights of national championships through club associations. The leagues, despite being organized as non-profit civil associations, would act as exclusive representatives of their members in the negotiating broadcast and arena rights for the country’s main men’s professional soccer competitions.
The GS concluded that the creation of these entities would constitute a joint venture. The rationale? The formation of a legal personality with a profit-oriented purpose, which goes beyond a mere association. According to the GS: “Where there are elements indicating a qualified cooperation between the contracting parties, characterized by a common purpose and an organizational structure capable of achieving it, the legal form of the agreement matters little, and the name given by the parties matters even less“. The GS initially considered that the revenue of the clubs forming the leagues, together, would have exceeded R$750 million, triggering the mandatory filing thresholds set forth in the Brazilian Competition Law.
For the GS, the formation of the leagues is indeed a concentration that required prior notification. The matter is now under review by CADE’s Tribunal, which seeks greater clarity on the league’s structure to define the economic group and, consequently, its revenues.
If the GS’s position is confirmed by the Tribunal, the absence of antitrust clearance for the formation of the leagues could result in a gun jumping conviction – subject to sanctions ranging from fines to the annulment of the acts performed.
At the moment, CADE’s Tribunal is awaiting further information from leagues, clubs and investors before issuing a final decision on the matter – but the Reporting Commissioner on the case, Victor Fernandes, decided to impose a preventive measure on Libra and LFU, ordering both organizations to suspend the admission of new member clubs until the conclusion of the investigation. This decision is also still subject to ratification by CADE’s Tribunal.
This content is part of the Monthly Competition and Antitrust Bulletin. Also check the other highlights of the month: A New Tool to Deepen the Competition Debate, CADE Launches First Investigation into Online Betting Platforms, CADE Investigates Gun-Jumping in the Formation of Soccer Leagues, CADE Reviews Fine Imposed on Rumo and Reinforces Its Stance on Proportionality in Unilateral Conduct, CADE Changes Its Stance on Codeshare Agreements and Orders Notification and Brazilian Government Proposes New Competition Regulation for Digital Platforms.
