Cemig joins BRL 32 million sponsorship for soccer teams

The government of Minas Gerais, state economic development agency Codemge, and electric utility Cemig announced on Tuesday, September 29, a BRL 32 million sponsorship package for regional soccer clubs América, Atlético, and Cruzeiro. The move follows a federal provisional measure published on Friday, September 25, that prohibited betting and virtual games in Brazil.

Minas Gerais Governor Mateus Simões stated that Atlético and Cruzeiro will each receive BRL 15 million, while América will receive an immediate allocation of BRL 2 million. The state government also intends to negotiate additional deals with Athletic, from São João del-Rei, and Uberlândia.

The annual sponsorship figures were calculated by updating the historical amounts Cemig paid to the three clubs before ending its sponsorships in 2015. Under the agreement, the clubs will display the state entities' brands on their jerseys, invest in women's soccer, and provide free match tickets to low-income students.

Cemig President Marco Aurélio Martins attended the meeting alongside Codemge President Luísa Cardoso Barreto, club leadership, and state officials. Specific jersey placements will be negotiated individually with each team to avoid interfering with existing commercial agreements.