Brazilian football player movement Bom Senso (Common Sense) FC is "campaigning for the formation of a regulatory body to enforce sanctions should a club not pay their players on time -- a common occurrence in Brazil," according to Andrew Downie of REUTERS. The group wants a "sliding scale of punishments that go from warnings to loss of points to disqualification from league and cup competitions." Bom Senso FC consultant Pedro Daniel said, "One club pays a salary more than it can afford and their rival sees that and offers more. A financial vicious circle is created. It leads to financial collapse." The group is also proposing a fifth division of more than 400 teams as part of a "wide-ranging shake-up" of Brazil's "debt-ridden domestic set-up." Brazil currently has a Serie A, B and C, of "around 20 teams each, as well as a Serie D comprising 40 teams." Only "100 or so of the country's 600 plus professional sides," however, play more than "three or four months a year." The rest compete in "abbreviated state or regional competitions." A fifth division, "featuring 36 regional groups of 12 teams each, would enable more players to earn a living from the game than the current set-up." The new proposals would allow "even the smallest clubs" to play all year and would include "20 teams in Series A and B, 48 teams in Serie C, and 144 teams in Serie D, in addition to the mega fifth division." The proposals will be "put forward to the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF)" and the TV companies (REUTERS, 3/17).
