Flamengo face five-year Copinha ban after FPF deny request | OneFootball

On Monday, the Paulista Football Federation (FPF) denied a request from Flamengo to exchange players registered for the São Paulo Football Cup (Copinha), which starts on Friday (3 January).

Flamengo’s first-team players are on an extended vacation after their Club World Cup second-place finish and Flamengo wish to have some of their top youngsters take part in the Taça Guanabara, the first part of the Campeonato Carioca, in their absence.

Flamengo is in Group 25 of Brazil’s top youth competition, along with Água Santa, Trem, and Vitória da Conquista.

Flamengo have previously threatened to not participate in the Copinha if this request was denied.

According to the rules of the competition, any team that drops out of the tournament after confirming their entry is banned from the next five versions of the tournament and will be fined R$20,000 ($5,000).

The FPF confirmed that they reminded Flamengo via a letter that the final date for to exchange players was November 25th – two days after Flamengo conquered the Copa Libertadores and qualified for the Club World Cup.