Reinaldo Carneiro Bastos warns about sports betting among youth athletes.

Reinaldo Carneiro Bastos, president of the São Paulo Football Federation (FPF), has launched a campaign for re-election to the position he has held since 2015. The 72-year-old leader began this January to orchestrate his continued tenure at the head of the state entity. If re-elected, Bastos could complete 14 years at the helm of São Paulo football.

The official's move comes at a crucial time for the sport, especially with regard to sports betting, a topic that has gained increasing relevance in the Brazilian football scene and directly impacts clubs, athletes, and fans.

Last year, the president of the FPF (São Paulo Football Federation) attempted to expand his influence to the national stage by seeking the presidency of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), following a similar path to that of his predecessor, Marco Polo Del Nero. However, the attempt failed due to a lack of support from the state federations necessary to make his candidacy viable.

With Bastos' withdrawal, Samir Xaud, representative of the Roraima Federation, was elected president of the CBF. The São Paulo official declared that he had ended his ambitions in national football: "I am 72 years old. I have contributed as much as I could."

In an interview with Folha de S.Paulo on Saturday (10), Bastos discussed the financial impacts of the changes in the Brazilian football calendar for São Paulo clubs. According to him, the changes represent significant losses for state football.

"In a straightforward analysis, this reduces revenue by 25% to 30%. Our job is to make that percentage as small as possible," explained the president of the FPF (São Paulo Football Federation) regarding the financial challenges faced by São Paulo football.

When questioned about the federation's measures against racism, homophobia, and other forms of intolerance, Bastos highlighted educational initiatives. He stated that the organization invests in information, dialogue, and lectures in clubs, especially with athletes in youth categories.

During this educational work, the president of the FPF identified a worrying issue: "We have been talking a lot with the young players in the youth teams, and you know what we discovered? That the young players in the youth teams don't know that the law prohibits and can lead to huge suspensions for placing sports bets."

Regarding the fight against illegal betting, Bastos clarified that the role of the FPF (São Paulo Football Federation) and the CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation) goes beyond education. He explained that athletes rarely register directly with betting companies using their own documents, as this would constitute an admission of wrongdoing.

The manager identified that one of the main challenges lies in the players' personal relationships: "The biggest difficulty is when a friend of his, who is going through a tough time, asks him to force a yellow card in the last five minutes of the game. So, we're going to have to start talking, having a dialogue, and explaining that there are other ways to help his friend."