Brazilian football clubs may back Flávio Bolsonaro after Lula’s pre-election betting ban

Brazilian football clubs could publicly support Flávio Bolsonaro’s presidential bid after President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva banned sports betting days before the first round of the 2026 election, according to BandNews TV journalist Rodolfo Schneider. For high-risk payments players, the point is not the politics; it is that a government move on bets can quickly turn into a commercial fight over sponsorships, payments flow, and which side of regulation a major brand wants to be seen on.

1. Schneider said on the BandNews TV program “X da Questão” on Tuesday (6/10) that talks were already underway involving at least two major Brazilian clubs, and that public endorsement of Flávio Bolsonaro is “not to be ruled out” after Lula’s government introduced a total ban on bets shortly before the first round, which was held on Sunday (4/10).
2. The journalist named Corinthians as one of the clubs involved in the discussions and said Flamengo president Pape had also spoken publicly on the issue. He added that other club presidents had complained about, and criticized, the way the government announced the betting ban, even if they had not formally declared support for the Liberal Party (PL) campaign.
3. Schneider said the PL’s pitch is built around Flávio Bolsonaro’s stated position: if elected, he would allow sports betting but ban online casinos, including “Jogo do Tigrinho.” In other words, the campaign is trying to separate sports betting from casino-style products and make that distinction politically useful.
4. On the other side, Lula’s decision to shut down bets entirely before the first round has also created friction inside the PT campaign. Schneider said there is internal debate over whether the move was correct, and that some in government are blaming Communications Minister Sidônio Palmeira as the main advocate for ending sports betting completely.

For PSPs, acquirers, and partners serving Brazil, the useful detail is that betting regulation is now part of a broader electoral split, and that clubs with national visibility are being discussed as public political actors, not just sponsorship counterparties. That is the kind of shift that can change merchant risk, brand exposure, and the appetite of local partners in one move.