Flamengo protests Brazil’s bets ban with “Prohibiting is not protecting” jersey message

Flamengo wore “Prohibiting is not protecting” across the front of its shirt against Santos on Thursday (8/10), turning a Brasileirão match into a public response to the Lula government’s provisional measure banning online betting in Brazil. For PSPs and operators, the point is simple: when regulation moves this fast, clubs, sponsors, and payment-linked businesses all end up in the blast radius.

1. Flamengo took the field against Santos with the phrase “Proibir não é proteger” on the front of its kit, in the space normally reserved for the main sponsor. The message was a protest against the provisional measure issued by the Lula government that banned bets in Brazil.
2. The protest was not limited to one club. It was part of a coordinated action across the round, with companies linked to the Associação Nacional de Jogos e Loterias (ANJL) and the Instituto Brasileiro de Jogo Responsável (IBJR) giving up stadium advertising space to carry the same message.
3. Stadium boards rotated through a series of anti-ban slogans: “Proibir quem segue as regras favorece quem?”, “Não se muda a regra no meio do jogo”, “A demanda não acaba, apenas muda de endereço”, “A quem interessa o mercado ilegal?”, and “Quem lucra com as bets ilegais?”
4. On 25 September, the government announced a veto on the operation of online betting houses. In response, clubs issued a joint manifesto titled “fim do futebol brasileiro” against the decision.
5. A meeting between clubs, federations, and ministers at the Palácio do Planalto in Brasília was expected to discuss the impact of the provisional measure on sport, but it was postponed. One topic on the agenda is the possibility of government credit support for teams affected by the measure.