Copa União
Encyclopedia
The Copa União (ˈkɔpɐ uˈnjɐ̃w, Union Cup) was an one-off competition in Brazil
ian football, held in 1987
in the absence of the conventional CBF national championship
.
announced it had no financial conditions to organize the Brazilian football championship, a mere few weeks before it was scheduled to begin. As a result, the thirteen most popular football clubs in Brazil created a league, dubbed the Club of the 13
, to organize a championship of their own. This tournament was called Copa União and was run by the 16 clubs that eventually took part in it (Santa Cruz, Coritiba and Goiás were invited to join), completely free from CBF authority (a move not unlike the creation of club-administered leagues in Europe).
and Rede Globo
, which guaranteed the clubs would be paid unprecedented rates for TV broadcasts.
The CBF initially agreed to granting the 1987 national title to the Copa União winners. However it eventually backed off due to pressure from smaller clubs, mainly the ones that were excluded from the championship, and also due to the prospect of forever losing control of the national championship. The CBF then announced, with the Copa União already taking place, that the national championship would be decided in a run-off between the two best teams of the Copa União and the two best teams of a tournament congregating smaller teams (which the CBF dubbed the "Yellow Module"). The move was rejected the Club of 13, which announced none of its members would take part in the play-off. Most of the media and the public opinion sided with the Club of 13.
The Copa União was a huge success both in terms of stadium attendance and TV audience, and also for the quality of football that was displayed. Having barely qualified for the semifinals, Flamengo
went on to eliminate favorite Atlético Mineiro
with two historic wins, 1-0 at the Estádio do Maracanã
and 3-2 at the Mineirão
. In the final round, the Rio de Janeiro
side became the champions after a 1-1 draw in Porto Alegre
and a 1-0 victory at the Maracanã over Internacional
.
Among Flamengo's starting eleven that year, only one player, Aílton, has never played for the Brazilian national football team. The side consisted of such famous players as Zico
, Bebeto
, Jorginho
, Zé Carlos (goalkepper), Leandro, Edinho
, Leonardo
, Andrade
, Zinho and Renato Gaúcho
, who was elected the best player in the tournament.
Consistent with the Club of 13 decision, both Flamengo and Internacional refused to face Sport Recife and Guarani
-- who had agreed to share the Yellow Module title -- in the final play-off the CBF had convened. Since Flamengo and Internacional did not show up, the CBF championship finals consisted only of a rematch of the Yellow Module finals. In the first game, in Campinas
, both teams tied 1-1. On February 7, 1988, Sport beat Guarani 1-0 and was declared the 1987 national champions by the CBF. Most of the media and the public opinion, however, did not give much credit to Sport's claim to the title, and considered Flamengo the Brazilian champions of that year.
The Club of 13 and the National Sports Council (CND), the entity legally in charge of settling the dispute at the time, before the 1988 Constitution, considered Flamengo to be the 1987 Brazilian Champions. The CBF, however, declared Sport to be the national champions, and the club, along with Guarani, represented Brazil in the 1988 Copa Libertadores de América. On the following judicial battle for legitimacy, Sport was judged the rightful 1987 national champions in a federal court.
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian football, held in 1987
1987 in Brazilian football
The following article presents a summary of the 1987 football season in Brazil, which was the 86th season of competitive football in the country.-Campeonato Brasileiro Yellow Module:...
in the absence of the conventional CBF national championship
Campeonato Brasileiro Série A
The Campeonato Brasileiro de Clubes da Série A , popularly known as the Brasileirão , is a professional football league at the top of the Brazilian football league system held annually since 1959. Contested by twenty clubs, it operates a system of promotion and relegation with the Série B...
.
Background
In 1987, the CBFBrazilian Football Confederation
The Brazilian Football Confederation is the governing body of football in Brazil. It was founded on June 8, 1914, as Confederação Brasileira de Desportos , meaning Brazilian Sports Confederation. Its first president was Álvaro Zamith. It organizes the Brazilian national competitions, like...
announced it had no financial conditions to organize the Brazilian football championship, a mere few weeks before it was scheduled to begin. As a result, the thirteen most popular football clubs in Brazil created a league, dubbed the Club of the 13
Clube dos 13
Clube dos 13 is the organization responsible for representing the interest of the 20 greatest football clubs of Brazil, including members from several football state federations such as Federação Paulista de Futebol, Federação de Futebol do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Federação Gaúcha de Futebol and...
, to organize a championship of their own. This tournament was called Copa União and was run by the 16 clubs that eventually took part in it (Santa Cruz, Coritiba and Goiás were invited to join), completely free from CBF authority (a move not unlike the creation of club-administered leagues in Europe).
The competition
The Copa União was a single round robin from which four teams would qualify for the semifinals. The Club of the 13 signed sponsoring contracts with Coca-ColaCoca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
and Rede Globo
Rede Globo
Rede Globo , or simply Globo, is a Brazilian television network, launched by media mogul Roberto Marinho on April 26, 1965. It is owned by media conglomerate Organizações Globo, being by far the largest of its holdings...
, which guaranteed the clubs would be paid unprecedented rates for TV broadcasts.
The CBF initially agreed to granting the 1987 national title to the Copa União winners. However it eventually backed off due to pressure from smaller clubs, mainly the ones that were excluded from the championship, and also due to the prospect of forever losing control of the national championship. The CBF then announced, with the Copa União already taking place, that the national championship would be decided in a run-off between the two best teams of the Copa União and the two best teams of a tournament congregating smaller teams (which the CBF dubbed the "Yellow Module"). The move was rejected the Club of 13, which announced none of its members would take part in the play-off. Most of the media and the public opinion sided with the Club of 13.
The Copa União was a huge success both in terms of stadium attendance and TV audience, and also for the quality of football that was displayed. Having barely qualified for the semifinals, Flamengo
Clube de Regatas do Flamengo
Clube de Regatas do Flamengo , also known as Flamengo and familiarly as Mengão, is a Brazilian sports club based in the Flamengo bairro, Zona Sul, Rio de Janeiro, best known for its professional football team...
went on to eliminate favorite Atlético Mineiro
Clube Atlético Mineiro
Clube Atlético Mineiro , are a Brazilian football club based in Belo Horizonte, the oldest in the city. Founded in 1908, they play in the Campeonato Mineiro and Campeonato Brasileiro Série A or Brasileirão. Atlético Mineiro have been Brazilian champions once, state winners a record 40 times and...
with two historic wins, 1-0 at the Estádio do Maracanã
Estádio do Maracanã
The Estádio do Maracanã , officially Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho, is an open-air stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Owned by the Rio de Janeiro State Government, it is named after the Maracanã neighbourhood in Rio de Janeiro. It was opened in 1950 to host the FIFA World Cup, and in the final...
and 3-2 at the Mineirão
Mineirão
Mineirão , officially Estádio Governador Magalhães Pinto established in 1965 in Belo Horizonte, is the largest football stadium in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, and the second largest in the country, after Maracanã...
. In the final round, the Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
side became the champions after a 1-1 draw in Porto Alegre
Porto Alegre
Porto Alegre is the tenth most populous municipality in Brazil, with 1,409,939 inhabitants, and the centre of Brazil's fourth largest metropolitan area . It is also the capital city of the southernmost Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. The city is the southernmost capital city of a Brazilian...
and a 1-0 victory at the Maracanã over Internacional
Sport Club Internacional
Sport Club Internacional is a Brazilian football team and multi-sport club from Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, founded on April 4, 1909, and are one of the only five clubs to have never been relegated, along with Santos, São Paulo, Flamengo and Cruzeiro. They play in red shirts, white shorts and...
.
Among Flamengo's starting eleven that year, only one player, Aílton, has never played for the Brazilian national football team. The side consisted of such famous players as Zico
Zico
Arthur Antunes Coimbra , better known as Zico , is a Brazilian coach and former footballer. He is the current head coach of the Iraq national football team. Often called the "White Pelé", he is commonly considered one of the most skilled finishers and one of the best passers ever and possibly the...
, Bebeto
Bebeto
José Roberto Gama de Oliveira, known as 'Bebeto', is a former football forward, a World Champion for Brazil in the 1994 World Cup...
, Jorginho
Jorginho
Jorge de Amorim Campos , aka Jorginho, is a retired Brazilian footballer who played mainly as a right defender, and the current coach of Figueirense Futebol Clube....
, Zé Carlos (goalkepper), Leandro, Edinho
Edino Nazareth Filho
Edinho, real name Edino Nazareth Filho, was a football player from Brazil. He played central defender with Fluminense Football Club, Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense and with the Brazilian national team...
, Leonardo
Leonardo Araújo
Leonardo Nascimento de Araújo, known as Leonardo , is a football manager and a former midfielder. He is currently active as director of football of French club Paris Saint-Germain....
, Andrade
Jorge Luís Andrade da Silva
Jorge Luís Andrade da Silva, better known as Andrade, is a former defensive midfielder born April 21, 1957 in Juiz de Fora, MG. After being sacked as Flamengo's general manager, currently he is unemployed.-Career:...
, Zinho and Renato Gaúcho
Renato Gaúcho
Renato Gaúcho, real name Renato Portaluppi is a former association footballer who played forward and a football manager, he was born in Guaporé, Rio Grande do Sul.He is currently unemployed...
, who was elected the best player in the tournament.
Consistent with the Club of 13 decision, both Flamengo and Internacional refused to face Sport Recife and Guarani
Guarani Futebol Clube
Guarani Futebol Clube is a Brazilian football club located in Campinas, São Paulo. Guarani is also known as Bugre, a popular term for an Indigenous Brazilian...
-- who had agreed to share the Yellow Module title -- in the final play-off the CBF had convened. Since Flamengo and Internacional did not show up, the CBF championship finals consisted only of a rematch of the Yellow Module finals. In the first game, in Campinas
Campinas
Campinas is a city and municipality located in the coastal interior of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. is the administrative center of the meso-region of the same name, with 3,783,597 inhabitants as of the 2010 Census, consisting of 49 cities....
, both teams tied 1-1. On February 7, 1988, Sport beat Guarani 1-0 and was declared the 1987 national champions by the CBF. Most of the media and the public opinion, however, did not give much credit to Sport's claim to the title, and considered Flamengo the Brazilian champions of that year.
The Club of 13 and the National Sports Council (CND), the entity legally in charge of settling the dispute at the time, before the 1988 Constitution, considered Flamengo to be the 1987 Brazilian Champions. The CBF, however, declared Sport to be the national champions, and the club, along with Guarani, represented Brazil in the 1988 Copa Libertadores de América. On the following judicial battle for legitimacy, Sport was judged the rightful 1987 national champions in a federal court.
Green Module
| Pos | Club | Pts | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
| 1 | Flamengo Clube de Regatas do Flamengo Clube de Regatas do Flamengo , also known as Flamengo and familiarly as Mengão, is a Brazilian sports club based in the Flamengo bairro, Zona Sul, Rio de Janeiro, best known for its professional football team... |
24 | 19 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 22 | 15 | 7 |
| 2 | Internacional Sport Club Internacional Sport Club Internacional is a Brazilian football team and multi-sport club from Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, founded on April 4, 1909, and are one of the only five clubs to have never been relegated, along with Santos, São Paulo, Flamengo and Cruzeiro. They play in red shirts, white shorts and... |
18 | 19 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 14 | 12 | 2 |
| 3 | Atlético Mineiro Clube Atlético Mineiro Clube Atlético Mineiro , are a Brazilian football club based in Belo Horizonte, the oldest in the city. Founded in 1908, they play in the Campeonato Mineiro and Campeonato Brasileiro Série A or Brasileirão. Atlético Mineiro have been Brazilian champions once, state winners a record 40 times and... |
25 | 17 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 23 | 9 | 14 |
| 4 | Cruzeiro Cruzeiro Esporte Clube Cruzeiro Esporte Clube is a Brazilian football team, from Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, and are one of the only five clubs to have never been relegated, along with Santos, São Paulo, Flamengo and Internacional. Founded on January 2, 1921, they are only one of three clubs to have participated in... |
21 | 17 | 6 | 9 | 2 | 16 | 7 | 9 |
| 5 | Grêmio Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense, commonly known as just Grêmio , is a Brazilian professional association football team based in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul founded by English and German immigrants on September 15, 1903. Major titles captured by Grêmio include one Intercontinental Cup, two Copa... |
18 | 15 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 14 | 8 | 6 |
| 6 | São Paulo São Paulo Futebol Clube São Paulo Futebol Clube , commonly known as São Paulo, is a professional football club based in São Paulo, Brazil. They play in the Campeonato Paulista, São Paulo's state league, and the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A or Brasileirão, Brazil's national league, and are one of the only five clubs to... |
17 | 15 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 21 | 12 | 9 |
| 7 | Fluminense Fluminense Football Club Fluminense Football Club is a sports club based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Founded in the beginning of the 20th century as a single-sport institution, Fluminense is today an umbrella organization for several teams in more than 16 different sport activities. The most popular endeavor of Fluminense,... |
17 | 15 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 14 | 12 | 2 |
| 8 | Palmeiras Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras is a Brazilian football club from São Paulo. The club was founded on August 26, 1914, as Palestra Italia but changed to the current name on September 14, 1942... |
16 | 15 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 11 | 13 | |
| 9 | Botafogo Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas , also known as Botafogo and familiarly as Estrela Solitária, is a Brazilian sports club based in Botafogo, neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, best known for its football team. They play in the Campeonato Carioca, Rio de Janeiro's state league, and the Campeonato... |
15 | 15 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 9 | 2 |
| 10 | Vasco da Gama | 13 | 15 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 17 | 18 | |
| 11 | Bahia Esporte Clube Bahia Esporte Clube Bahia , known familiarly as Bahiaço, is a Brazilian professional football club, based in Salvador, Bahia. They play in the Campeonato Baiano, Bahia's state league, and the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, Brazil's national league. Bahia was a founding member of the Clube dos 13 group... |
13 | 15 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 18 | |
| 12 | Coritiba Coritiba Foot Ball Club Coritiba Foot Ball Club, commonly known as Coritiba, is a Brazilian football team from Curitiba, Paraná. It's the state's oldest football team and the best classified in the CBF and FIFA classifications. Coritiba has been champion in Paraná State for 35 times, more times than the sum of all the... |
12 | 15 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 15 | 22 | |
| 13 | Goiás Goiás Esporte Clube Goiás Esporte Clube, also known as Goiás, is a Brazilian football team in Goiânia, Goiás state. It is one of the largest clubs of the Central-Western part of Brazil and they won the 'Série B once.Its main rival is Vila Nova... |
11 | 15 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 15 | |
| 14 | Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Futebol Clube Santa Cruz Futebol Clube, or simply Santa Cruz is a Brazilian football club in Recife, Pernambuco.-Early history:On February 3, 1914, eleven young men aging from 14 to 16 years founded a football society... |
11 | 15 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 20 | |
| 15 | Santos Santos Futebol Clube Santos Futebol Clube is a Brazilian professional football club based in Santos, São Paulo They play in the Campeonato Paulista and the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, the highest professional leagues in São Paulo state and Brazil, respectively.... |
11 | 15 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 17 | |
| 16 | Corinthians Sport Club Corinthians Paulista Sport Club Corinthians Paulista, commonly just known as Corinthians , is a Brazilian football club based in the city of São Paulo. They play in the São Paulo state league, as well as the Brasileirão, Brazil's top national league... |
10 | 15 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 16 | |
Yellow Module
| Pos | Club | Pts | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
| 1 | Sport Sport Club do Recife Sport Club do Recife, more popularly known as Sport in Recife or Sport Recife in Northeastern Brazil, is a football team from Recife, Pernambuco.-1905 - Foundation:... |
18 | 26 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 27 | 12 | 15 |
| 2 | Guarani Guarani Futebol Clube Guarani Futebol Clube is a Brazilian football club located in Campinas, São Paulo. Guarani is also known as Bugre, a popular term for an Indigenous Brazilian... |
18 | 24 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 21 | 12 | 9 |
| 3 | Bangu Bangu Atlético Clube Bangu Atlético Clube, or Bangu as they are usually called, is a Brazilian football team from Bangu, Rio de Janeiro in Rio de Janeiro, founded on April 17, 1904... |
16 | 18 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 17 | 13 | 4 |
| 4 | Atlético Paranaense Clube Atlético Paranaense Clube Atlético Paranaense is a Brazilian football team from Curitiba in Paraná, founded on March 26, 1924. The club won the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A in 2001.-History:... |
16 | 18 | 5 | 8 | 3 | 16 | 11 | 5 |
| 5 | Criciúma Criciúma Esporte Clube Criciúma Esporte Clube, also known simply as Criciúma, is a Brazilian football club in Criciúma, Santa Catarina. The club won the Copa do Brasil in 1991, the Campeonato Brasileiro Série B in 2002, and the Campeonato Brasileiro Série C in 2006.-History:... |
14 | 17 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 17 | 12 | 5 |
| 6 | Vitória Esporte Clube Vitória Esporte Clube Vitória, usually known simply as Vitória, is a Brazilian football team from Salvador in Bahia, founded on May 13, 1899.Vitória's home games are played at the club's own stadium . They play in red and black horizontal striped shirts, black shorts and black socks... |
14 | 17 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 15 | 10 | 5 |
| 7 | Portuguesa Associação Portuguesa de Desportos Associação Portuguesa de Desportos, usually called Portuguesa or Lusa, is a sports club, and a Brazilian football team from São Paulo in São Paulo state, founded on August 14, 1920 by the Portuguese population of the city.-History:... |
14 | 15 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 13 | 10 | 3 |
| 8 | Internacional-SP | 14 | 14 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 9 | |
| 9 | Treze Treze Futebol Clube Treze Futebol Clube is a Brazilian football team from Campina Grande in Paraíba, founded on September 7, 1925. The club competed in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A several times.Treze greatest rivals are Botafogo and Campinense.... |
14 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 15 | 16 | |
| 10 | Rio Branco-ES Rio Branco Atlético Clube Rio Branco Atlético Clube, usually known simply as Rio Branco, is a Brazilian football club based in the city of Cariacica in the Espírito Santo state of Brazil.-History:... |
14 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 12 | |
| 11 | Atlético-GO Atlético Clube Goianiense Atlético Clube Goianiense, usually known as Atlético Goianiense or just Atlético, is a Brazilian football team from the city of Goiânia, Goiás state. Atlético Goianiense is the oldest Goiânia city football club. The club is the first team of its state to win a national competition, which was the... |
14 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 13 | |
| 12 | Ceará Ceará Sporting Club Ceará Sporting Club, or Ceará as they are usually called, is a Brazilian football team from Fortaleza in Ceará, founded on June 2, 1914.... |
14 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 9 | 14 | |
| 13 | Náutico Clube Náutico Capibaribe Clube Náutico Capibaribe, also known as Náutico, is a Brazilian sports club, including a professional football team, in Recife, Pernambuco.... |
14 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 13 | 22 | |
| 14 | Joinville Joinville Esporte Clube Joinville Esporte Clube, or simply Joinville as they are usually called, is a Brazilian football team from Joinville in Santa Catarina, founded on January 29, 1976.... |
14 | 9 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 16 | |
| 15 | CSA Centro Sportivo Alagoano Centro Sportivo Alagoano, is a Brazilian football team from Maceió in Alagoas, founded on September 7, 1913. It is the biggest club in the state of Alagoas, and the largest fan base.... |
14 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 9 | 21 | |
| 16 | America-RJ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |