Football clubs in Brazil are seeking new sources of revenue to mitigate the economic effects of COVID-19, with teams having submitted a proposal to Caixa Econômica Federal in which they asked them to advance funds from the Federal Lotteries.

The Vice President of Caixa Edílson Ribeiro Vianna, the President of the Mixed Parliamentary Front for Sport Júlio César Ribeiro and the representative of the clubs of the four divisions Guilherme Belintani, were part of a video conference where they discussed different ideas to help football teams.

According to Games Magazine Brazil, the teams also asked the federal government to suspend debt payments. Currently, clubs receive 9.57% of each bet from Loteca and 22% from Timemania, although services have been down since March 16.

The fund is used to reduce the federal debts of the teams, and in 2019 they received around $2.8m from Loteca and $11m from Timemania.

Since the teams received that money 15 days after each bet was placed, the representative requested a significant advance, for an undisclosed period of time. The fund would no longer work as a source to pay debts and it would contribute directly to the teams.

The Brazilian football entities also urged the government to process receipts from Lotex, the Estrela Instantânea consortium from IGT and Scientific Games. Lotex plans to kick off its services in June, and could contribute with more than $1m to local clubs.

Federal Deputy Júlio César Ribeiro said that finances are currently very low and only a contribution from lotteries could change the situation. “Caixa hasn’t told us that it will advance the payments”, but “they’re willing to help.”