Join Now  | 
Home About Contact Us Privacy & Security Advertise
Soccer America Daily Special Edition Around The Net Soccer Business Insider College Soccer Reporter Youth Soccer Reporter Soccer on TV Soccer America Classifieds
Paul Gardner: SoccerTalk Soccer America Confidential Youth Soccer Insider World Cup Watch
RSS Feeds Archives Manage Subscriptions Subscribe
Order Current Issue Subscribe Manage My Subscription Renew My Subscription Gift Subscription
My Account Join Now
Tournament Calendar Camps & Academies Soccer Glossary Classifieds
State leagues hurt Brazilian soccer
SI.com, January 21st, 2010 12PM
Subscribe to Section 2 Around the Net


MOST READ


Tim Vickery explains why the Brazilian league format, which still includes 27 state championships, hurts the domestic game. The country as big as a continent is divided into 27 states and its soccer structure is based not on the clubs, but on the various state federations.

"In such a huge country," writes Vickery, "these state championships played a vital role in getting the game off the ground. Without them, Brazilian soccer wouldn't be the national force it is today. But they've outlived their usefulness. The big clubs have become bigger and have their sights set higher, such as winning the Copa Libertadores and becoming champion of the continent.

"The small clubs have shrunk so much, they barely exist. That the big and small clubs meet in a league format makes no sporting or financial sense. It only makes sense from the point of view of the power structure."

 

 

Read the original story...


No comments yet.

Sign in to leave a comment. Don't have an account? Join Now


AUTHORS

ARCHIVES
FOLLOW SOCCERAMERICA

Recent Section 2 Around the Net
Vieira: NYCFC and Man City to Share Player Development    
When New York City FC finally takes the field as MLS's 20th team in 2015, it ...
Reports: Mourinho, Ancelotti to Move Once La Liga Ends    
According to reports in Spain and England, Real Madrid will unveil Carlo Ancelotti either on the ...
Florent Malouda: Chelsea's Costly Scapegoat    
Florent Malouda will pocket just over $6 million this year without having kicked a ball in ...
UEFA to Give UCL Spot to Europa Winner     
A new UEFA ruling will see the winner of its Europa League given an automatic berth ...
Schweinsteiger: Bayern Healthier and Better Than Last Year     
Bayern Munich is keen to shed the losers' tag it carries into Saturday's UEFA Champions League ...
Lampard: Blues Fans Had Every Right to Criticize Benitez     
Chelsea vice captain Frank Lampard, who recently inked a one-year contract extension with the club, said ...
Report: Seedorf to Replace Allegri at Milan    
Following his end-of-season meeting with AC Milan vice president Adriano Galliani, Massimiliano Allegri refused to confirm ...
Neymar off to Europe after Confed Cup?    
Neymar's transfer to somewhere in Europe appears imminent. According to reports in Spain and Brazil, the ...
Pellegrini Confirms Malaga Departure    
Manchester City target Manuel Pellegrini on Wednesday has confirmed that he will leave Mlaga at the ...
Report: Holden Gets Bolton Extension     
U.S. international Stuart Holden has agreed to a new one-year deal with current club Bolton Wanderers, ...
>> Section 2 Around the Net Archives