Flamengo displays opposition to sports betting ban

“Prohibiting is not protecting”: that was Flamengo’s message against the ban on sports betting. Its players wore the slogan on their shirts during the match against Santos, opposing a measure imposed by the Brazilian government.

The words were placed prominently beneath the club crest, where the name of its sponsor—a sports betting company—usually appears. The message was not confined to the players’ shirts. Local media present at the stadium also reported seeing it on the advertising boards around the pitch.

The protest reflects wider opposition among top-flight football clubs. Flamengo and other sides have spoken out against the ban and warned of its financial impact on their accounts. Their concern is tied to commercial partnerships: many of these teams have sponsors from the sports betting sector.

By putting the slogan on both the shirts and the boards around the pitch, Flamengo made visible a concern that extends beyond the words themselves. For the club and other affected teams, the ban is also a financial issue because of the place betting companies hold among their commercial sponsors.