1987 Brazilian Championship: Flamengo, Sport & The Controversial Title

The 1987 Brazilian football season unfolded amidst financial uncertainty and regulatory upheaval, ultimately resulting in a shared championship between Flamengo and Sport. The story began with the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) initially announcing it lacked the funds to organise a national championship, prompting a group of the nation’s most prominent clubs to take matters into their own hands.

The Rise of the Clube dos 13

Faced with the CBF’s financial constraints, the “Clube dos 13” – comprised of the most popular and successful teams in Brazil – formed to create their own competition. This group included the four major clubs from São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, along with the two largest teams from Minas Gerais and Rio Grande do Sul, as well as Bahia, Goiás, Santa Cruz, and Coritiba.

CBF Reversal and a Complex Format

The CBF, responding to the initiative of the Clube dos 13, reversed its decision and announced it would organise the Brazilian Championship. A complex four-module system was implemented, with the champions and runners-up of the Verde (Green) and Amarelo (Yellow) modules advancing to a final quadrangular to determine the overall national champion.

Did You Know? The initial plan for the second phase of the championship involved 32 clubs, but a regulatory change by the CBF expanded it to 36, altering qualification criteria from seven to eight teams per group.

A Dispute Over Participation

Despite publicly stating they would not participate in a crossover between the modules, a representative from the Clube dos 13 – Eurico Miranda – signed the regulations that included such a provision. This apparent contradiction added another layer of complexity to the already convoluted season.

Dual Champions Crowned

The outcome reflected the fractured nature of the season. Flamengo emerged victorious in the Copa União, winning the Verde module final against Internacional. Simultaneously, Sport and Guarani battled to a stalemate in the Amarelo module, ultimately sharing the trophy after a penalty shootout ended in an unprecedented 11-11 tie.

Expert Insight: The events of the 1987 Brazilian Championship highlight a period of significant tension between the governing body and the powerful clubs, demonstrating the influence of these institutions in shaping the landscape of Brazilian football. The regulatory changes and disputes over participation underscore the challenges of maintaining a unified and consistent national competition.

The Aftermath: 1988 Qualification

The results of the 1986 season determined the 24 teams that would compete in the Série A of 1988, in the following order: São Paulo, Guarani, Atlético Mineiro, América-RJ, Bahia, Fluminense, Corinthians, Cruzeiro, Palmeiras, Portuguesa, Flamengo, Joinville, Vasco, Grêmio, Criciúma, Inter de Limeira, Internacional, Athletico Paranaense, Santos, Rio Branco-ES, Bangu, Ponte Preta, Goiás and Ceará. Botafogo finished 31st and was relegated.

Frequently Asked Questions

What prompted the formation of the Clube dos 13?

The CBF initially announced it did not have the financial resources to organise the 1987 Brazilian Championship, leading the most prominent clubs to form the Clube dos 13 to create their own competition.

How did the 1987 championship ultimately conclude?

The championship resulted in two winners: Flamengo, champion of the Verde module, and Sport and Guarani, who shared the title of the Amarelo module after a drawn penalty shootout.

What was the significance of Eurico Miranda’s signature on the regulations?

Despite public statements from the Clube dos 13 indicating they would not participate in a crossover between modules, a representative of the group, Eurico Miranda, signed the regulations that included such a provision.

Given the complex and contested nature of the 1987 season, how might similar situations be avoided in modern Brazilian football to ensure a more transparent and universally accepted championship outcome?