TLDR The Uruguayan Football Association asked the government for help avoiding fines linked to betting ads during the Copa Libertadores final. The final will be played at Estadio Centenario in Montevideo on November 28th. Uruguay bans promotion of gambling companies not licensed in the country, including ads on visiting teams’ jerseys or in stadiums. President Yamandú Orsi met with football officials but ruled out changing the country’s gambling law. Officials are instead looking for a practical solution that applies specifically to international sporting events.
The Uruguayan Football Association has asked the national government for help avoiding fines tied to betting advertisements. The issue centers on the Copa Libertadores final, which will be played in Montevideo later this year.
AUF President Ignacio Alonso met with CONMEBOL President Alejandro Domínguez and Uruguayan President Yamandú Orsi to discuss the matter. Local news outlets reported on the meeting this week.
The final will take place at Estadio Centenario on November 28th. It is expected to draw a large international audience.
Why the Fines Happen
Uruguay has strict rules around online gambling promotion. The country bans advertising for betting companies that are not licensed to operate there.
This creates a problem during international matches. Visiting teams often wear jerseys or play in stadiums that carry ads for betting brands approved in their home countries.
Those same brands are not approved in Uruguay. When their logos appear on broadcasts, it can trigger a fine under national law.
CONMEBOL passes these fines on to the host club or association. That means Uruguayan football institutions end up paying penalties for advertising they did not choose to display.
The report notes that most Brazilian teams competing in the Libertadores or Sudamericana carry a betting sponsor. This makes the issue a recurring one for Uruguay whenever it