São Paulo FC postpones vote on statutory governance reform

The São Paulo Futebol Clube deliberative council has postponed the vote on a proposed statutory reform to August 24. Originally scheduled for August 17, the delay follows requests from several council members for more time to analyze the document. The meeting on the 17th will proceed only for debates and clarifications.

The proposed reform focuses on internal governance and professionalizing management. Key changes include restructuring the Board of Directors to include nine members, five of whom would be independent professionals selected by a specialized firm. Under the new rules, the club president would no longer automatically lead the Board of Directors. Additionally, the compliance department would report directly to the Board, and the board would gain the authority to review all football-related contracts within seven days.

José Francisco Manssur, a former director and prominent figure in the implementation of the SAF (Sociedade Anônima do Futebol) model in Brazil, has criticized the proposal. Manssur described the changes as a “old trick” intended to maintain the existing power structure rather than implementing genuine reform. He argued that true reform should include voting rights for “Sócio Torcedor” (club members) regarding the presidency, the council, and the decision to adopt the SAF model.