Athletes in the intangible in the financial statements of Football: Comparison of the practices of Brazilian and European Clubs

Abstract

This is a historic challenge in the accounting area: how to translate the values that these athletes represent to their teams into numbers and data. They are active, of course. The question is: how to classify them and, mainly, measure their economic achievement for the clubs they defend. Although new specific devices aim to make the task simpler, general regulations in the Brazilian scenario, such as the non-possibility of revaluing assets, hinder the identification of the real situation and the value of the main assets of national clubs: professional players. The article aimed to perform a qualitative analysis of the accounting policies and procedures recognized in the accounts of Brazilian professional football clubs in relation to the registration, amortization and impairment of the intangible with athletes, comparing them to three international teams. Palmeiras, Corinthians and Flamengo were the national teams selected in comparison to Manchester United (ING), Borussia Dortmund (ALE) and Barcelona (ESP). The research concludes that the degree of disclosure and information contained in the pieces varies according to the market, the regulations in force at the site and, mainly, the structuring of the teams' properties, with the best performing clubs having greater descriptive content and information in their Tales. Although a good part of the texts and reports are limited to a reproduction of policies and practices explained in norms and legal texts, without offering the accounting users useful information for their decision making.