Vinícius Jr. faces up to 2-year suspension over ownership of multiple clubs

Real Madrid and Brazil forward Vinícius Jr. could face a suspension of up to two years as FIFA investigates allegations of his involvement in the ownership of multiple football clubs.

The investigation centers on a potential breach of FIFA’s rules regarding conflicts of interest, and, according to reports from Marca, it could have significant consequences for the Brazilian star’s career.

Since joining Real Madrid from Flamengo in 2018, Vinícius Jr. has enjoyed a decorated spell, winning 14 major trophies, including two UEFA Champions League titles and three La Liga championships.

He has solidified his status as one of the top footballers in the world, consistently delivering exceptional performances for Los Blancos.

However, the club may now face the possibility of losing their star player for an extended period.

Vinícius Jr. is under investigation following a complaint that accuses him of being involved in the acquisition of professional football clubs through ALL Agenciamento Esportivo, a company managed by his father and agent.

The complaint was filed by Brazilian club Tiberis Holding do Brasil, which has called on FIFA’s Ethics Committee to impose a suspension of up to two years.

The issue arose after Athletic Club of São João del Rei, in which Tiberis held a 16.5% stake, was promoted to Brazil’s Serie B.

Following the promotion, Tiberis’ owner, Willy Francese, intended to exercise his right of first refusal to purchase a majority stake in the club.

However, the shares were instead sold directly to ALL, the company linked to Vinícius Jr. This led the commercial court of São Paulo to suspend the transaction, pending further investigation.

Despite the legal proceedings, ALL reportedly took operational control of the club, a move that angered Tiberis and intensified the conflict.

The complaint argues that this action violates Article 20 of FIFA’s Code of Ethics and Article 22 of the Spanish Federation’s Code of Sports Justice, both of which prohibit active players from owning, either directly or indirectly, professional football clubs.

As the investigation continues, the potential fallout could not only impact Vinícius Jr.’s career but also raise broader questions about player involvement in club ownership.