Ponte Preta Faces Complicated Situation Amid Ongoing Financial Crisis
Ponte Preta’s struggle in Brazil’s Série B has intensified as the team threatens to strike over unpaid wages. After not receiving pay for six months, the Campinas club’s players issued a strike warning last Thursday (19), prior to a disappointing 6-0 defeat to Vila Nova.
This loss left Ponte Preta with only ten points from 23 matches, placing the team at the bottom of the table and virtually ensuring their relegation to Série C, alongside América Mineiro. If no agreement on outstanding payments is reached by next Tuesday (25), the players plan to take legal measures that could result in stopping all football activities until their salaries are paid.
The looming strike raises the real possibility of Ponte Preta forfeiting future matches, including their upcoming game against América in Belo Horizonte. Before that, they will host Avaí (16th) at Moisés Lucarelli this Sunday (23).
The club has been in crisis since last year, compounded by a decline that saw them relegated in the Campeonato Paulista after managing just one point in eight matches. The financial troubles led to an exodus of players and a change in coaching staff due to delayed payments, despite winning the Série C title.
A R$1 Billion Cash Proposal?
Ponte Preta’s players recently clarified their position, indicating that transitioning to a SAF (Sociedade Anônima do Futebol) is essential for the club’s recovery. A deadline for settling salary payments coincides with an Extraordinary General Assembly on Monday (24), where the Deliberative Council will discuss the creation of a Football Corporation.
It is reported that Ponte Preta may already have a R$1 billion proposal on the table. The proposal would allocate finances as follows:
- R$300 million to pay off debts
- R$300 million to invest in football over ten years (R$30 million annually)
- R$400 million to modernize the Moisés Lucarelli stadium
Discussions regarding this proposal will only proceed if the SAF model gains approval. However, the club would still secure funding to address outstanding payments even if the proposal is not fully accepted, turning it into a loan to be repaid.
Ponte Squad Statement
“Ponte’s players have gone about six months without pay and are living through a situation that can no longer be ignored. At this moment, it is essential that the SAF move forward and be supported as an alternative to put the accounts in order, guarantee salaries, and provide decent working conditions for athletes and staff.”
“Without a concrete solution, the ones who end up paying the price are precisely the workers inside the club. Players and staff need to be paid so they can meet their obligations, with athletes and staff facing hardship alongside their families.”
“Ponte needs responsibility, investment and, above all, a solution that allows the club to honor its commitments again. From August 25 onward, if nothing changes, we will take measures backed by the law, which means stopping football until athletes and staff receive their salaries. Support for the players. Support for a solution for Ponte.”
Ponte Preta’s situation in Brazil’s Série B could become even more complicated.
Having gone six months without pay, the Campinas club’s players threatened to go on strike last Thursday (19), before the 6-0 loss to Vila Nova.
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The result kept Macaca on just ten points after 23 matches and at the bottom of the table. The club is virtually relegated to Série C along with América Mineiro.
If no agreement on the unpaid amounts is reached by next Tuesday (25), the idea “is to take measures backed by the law, which means stopping football until athletes and staff receive their salaries.”
The strike threat means Ponte runs a real risk of forfeiting by walkover from its next match onward, which will be precisely against América in Belo Horizonte.
Before that, next Sunday (23), Macaca will host Avaí (16th) at Moisés Lucarelli.
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The crisis has been an issue at the club since last year. The historic Série C title came despite the exodus of players (and the coach) because of delayed wages.
That situation did not change at the turn of the year. And relegation in the Campeonato Paulista came after just one point from eight matches.
A R$1 BILLION cash proposal?
The Ponte Preta squad’s statement — see the full text below — presents the possibility of the club becoming a SAF as something fundamental.
The deadline mentioned for salary payments is linked to the Extraordinary General Assembly scheduled for Monday (24).
It will be on that day that Ponte’s Deliberative Council will decide on the creation of a Football Corporation.
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And Ponte is said to already have a R$1 billion proposal. The breakdown would be:
-
R$300 million to pay off debts
-
R$300 million to invest in football over 10 years (R$30 million/year)
-
R$400 million to modernize Moisés Lucarelli
The proposal in question would only be discussed if the SAF model is approved.
But an amount to settle the pending obligations would be guaranteed even if that offer is not approved at a later stage.
That would then become a loan to be repaid by the club.
Ponte squad statement
“Ponte’s players have gone about six months without pay and are living through a situation that can no longer be ignored.
At this moment, it is essential that the SAF move forward and be supported as an alternative to put the accounts in order, guarantee salaries, and provide decent working conditions for athletes and staff.
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Without a concrete solution, the ones who end up paying the price are precisely the workers inside the club. Players and staff need to be paid so they can meet their obligations, with athletes and staff facing hardship alongside their families.
Ponte needs responsibility, investment and, above all, a solution that allows the club to honor its commitments again. From August 25 onward, if nothing changes, we will take measures backed by the law, which means stopping football until athletes and staff receive their salaries.
Support for the players. Support for a solution for Ponte”
Photo: Marcos Ribolli/PontePress
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This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.
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