Fluminense May Not See End Of Campeonato Carioca As FERJ Charges Club $122,000

Things "got heated" between the Rio de Janeiro State Football Federation (FERJ) and Brasileiro side Fluminense, according to Rodrigo Paradella of UOL. The club owes FERJ R$400,000 ($122,000) "for a debt created" during this year's Campeonato Carioca, which the club "contests." FERJ President Rubens Lopes has "threatened to suspend [the club] from the competition if the debt is not paid soon." Lopes said, "I gave them until Wednesday. If Fluminense does not pay, they will lose a home match. So, we'll start a new time frame, and if the payment is not made, the club will be suspended from the state championship [Campeonato Carioca], and a losing streak of 3-0 will be considered for the rest of its games during the suspension period." However, Fluminense "does not plan to pay the debt charged by FERJ, but it has not decided whether to contest the value in court" or not (UOL, 3/19).