AUF Petitions Orsi Government for Betting Advertising Relief Ahead of Copa Libertadores Final

The Uruguayan Football Association has formally asked the government of President Yamandú Orsi to withhold fines against the South American Football Confederation for sports betting advertising at the Copa Libertadores final. The match is scheduled for 28 November 2026 at Montevideo’s Estadio Centenário.

Ignacio Alonso, president of the AUF, conveyed the request to Orsi during a meeting that also included Conmebol president Alejandro Domínguez. Discussions addressed the practical difficulties that arise when visiting teams, particularly from Brazil, arrive with betting sponsors on shirts and stadium hoardings. According to Uruguayan outlet Búsqueda, such visibility has triggered penalties against Conmebol that are then transferred to Uruguayan host clubs.

Uruguay operates a tightly controlled betting market. No private online operators are licensed. The only authorised platform is state-supervised Supermatch, managed through the Dirección Nacional de Loterías y Quinielas within the Ministry of Economy and Finance. Existing rules ban promotion of unlicensed betting products at sporting venues, in media, or during public events.

Orsi described the resulting enforcement as “an absurdity” when applied to international fixtures. “Static advertising or the on-screen signal can be managed. But when a team comes, it becomes difficult, and it is a kind of absurdity that we have to resolve,” Orsi said. He added that officials are not examining changes to the underlying gambling statute and are instead pursuing case-specific solutions.

Conmebol already applies geo-targeted advertising in its broadcast feeds, varying sponsors by transmission country. The AUF and Conmebol are collaborating with the executive to devise an approach that shields the November final from sanctions while preserving Uruguay’s restrictive policy.

Persistent Friction Between National Rules and Continental Tournaments

The pattern of fines reveals a structural limitation: Uruguay’s framework was not written for tournaments in which practically all Brazilian participants carry betting sponsors. Temporary relief for single events may avert immediate penalties, yet leaves clubs and confederations exposed to repeated compliance costs without legislative adjustment.

Preparations for the 2030 World Cup

Resolution carries added weight because this will be the first Libertadores final hosted in Uruguay since 2018. The Estadio Centenário is also designated for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, making workable arrangements for international sponsorship visibility an operational prerequisite for future hosting success.

Reporting: G3 Newswire

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