Football clubs challenge TV rights structures

In late July 2026, Brazil’s top clubs faced a schedule shift that placed the Copa do Brasil ahead of the league, while players began demanding clearer calculations of TV broadcast revenues. A court case in Goiás highlighted alleged under‑payments, underscoring broader calls for transparency in the country’s lucrative TV‑rights market.

A week later, Portuguese giants led by Benfica’s president submitted a formal petition to the national parliament seeking to suspend and review Portugal’s centralized audiovisual rights system. The club argued that any reform must safeguard revenue streams, investment capacity, and competitive balance, and called for an independent assessment of the rights‑management entity.

As the 2026/27 Liga Portugal season begins, this challenge remains a primary off-pitch storyline. Benfica president Rui Costa continues to push for a technical and economic evaluation of the current centralized selling model to ensure the financial sustainability and competitiveness of clubs within the evolving media landscape.

With the commencement of the Portuguese professional leagues, the dispute over broadcasting rights has moved into the political sphere. Benfica has formally submitted its petition to the Assembly of the Republic, seeking a suspension and review of the centralized model to ensure financial sustainability through independent technical and economic evaluations.