Soccer Players Left Unpaid as Sponsors Flee: Corporate Brazil

The boost that the World Cup was supposed to give Brazilian soccer hasn’t materialized as a sluggish economy and budget shortfalls leave the majority of top division clubs unable to pay salaries.

Five of the league’s 20 clubs, including former FIFA world club champion Sao Paulo and Santos, where soccer star Pele spent the majority of his career, ended the season this month without major sponsors on their shirts. At least 17 clubs delayed players’ salaries this year, said a person with direct knowledge of the matter, who asked not to be identified because the issue is private.

Some sponsors canceled contracts after focusing spending on the World Cup, and others are reducing advertising budgets because of weak economic growth, said Luiz Gonzaga Belluzzo, former president of the Palmeiras soccer club. Toshiba Corp.’s joint venture in Brazil and payroll lender Banco BMG SA are among companies that withdrew their backing in the past year. Kia Motors Corp. said it won’t support clubs any more because returns fell short of expectations.

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