Leila Pereira wins Confut awards and criticizes Brazilian club models

Leila Pereira, president of Palmeiras, received several awards at the 2026 Confut Sudamericana event in Rio de Janeiro, where Palmeiras was recognized as a top performer in South American football management.

During the forum, Pereira was named Best Executive (Statutory, Owner, or Club President), winning against competitors from Flamengo and River Plate. Palmeiras secured a total of six trophies, including awards for Best Management Practices, Best Football Executive (Anderson Barros), Best Youth Football Professional (João Paulo Sampaio), and Best Technology and Innovation Professional (Emerson Oki). The club also won for Best Innovation/Technology Action for its Tactic AI project, developed in partnership with Google DeepMind.

In her remarks, Pereira criticized the current associative model used by many Brazilian clubs, describing it as “failed and bankrupt.” She argued that the system lacks credibility because presidents often prioritize maintaining their positions over the interests of the institution and fans. Regarding the creation of an independent league, she expressed skepticism about clubs reaching a consensus, stating that if the CBF does not intervene to organize the structure, a league will likely never exist.