Did the law 'stick'? Legislative policy, media, and the territorialization of Sociedades Anônimas do Futebol (SAF) in Brazil

Abstract

This article investigates the implications of the adoption of Law No. 14,193/2021, which introduced the legal framework of the Sociedade Anônima do Futebol (SAF), by drawing on two complementary dimensions: the discursive construction surrounding the legislation in political and media arenas, and the tangible territorial impacts arising from its implementation across Brazil. It seeks to address the following question: how has the SAF Law been framed in political and media discourse, and how has it played out in practice among football clubs in different regions of the country? To that end, the study draws upon a combination of methods, including documentary analysis of the legislative process of Brazilian Senate Bill No. 5.516/2019, data collection from the Brazilian Federal Revenue Service, geospatial mapping using ArcGIS, and discourse analysis with IRaMuTeQ. The findings suggest that, between 2021 and 2024, the SAF model was predominantly taken up by newly formed clubs, detached from traditional associations and clustered in economically privileged areas. Rather than bringing about a systemic overhaul of national football governance, the legislation paved the way for the entry of new economic actors, many of whom lack any historical involvement in the sport, thereby reinforcing structural exclusions and intensifying regional disparities. The study argues that, although presented as a comprehensive remedy to long-standing management and financial issues, the SAF model has primarily served to tie Brazilian clubs into global financial circuits. This dynamic calls for a broader critical debate on the social role of football clubs and the boundaries of their ongoing corporatization.