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Secretaria Regional da Educação, Cultura e Desporto
Press release
Press release
Secretaria Regional da Educação, Cultura e Desporto
Sofia Ribeiro defines "autonomy" of sports entities as strategic axis for sustainability and merit
Sofia Ribeiro defines "autonomy" of sports entities as strategic axis for sustainability and merit
Secretaria Regional da Educação, Cultura e Desporto
Press release
Press release
January 26, 2026
Press release
January 13, 2026
Sofia Ribeiro defines "autonomy" of sports entities as strategic axis for sustainability and merit
January 2, 2026
Press release
News
Nota de Imprensa
January 26, 2026
Press release
Following recent public statements and reports in the regional press regarding an alleged "possible cut in support from the Regional Government" towards football in the Region, the Regional Directorate for Sport considers it appropriate to issue an institutional clarification, with the sole purpose of avoiding misinterpretations and preserving the healthy atmosphere of cooperation that has always been a hallmark in the relations between institutions. In this context, it is important to clarify, objectively and unmistakably, that there have been no budget cuts in the area of sports training projects and annual national competition activities, with the levels of support allocated in previous seasons being maintained. Regarding “regional, national and refereeing” activities, contracted with sports associations, it should be noted that the Regional Government signed programme contracts in 2025 with the three Azores Football Associations, for a total amount of €240,314.00, corresponding to support for regional activities, participation in national competitions under this category and refereeing activities. For the year 2026, the reference amount available for this area remains the same: €240,314.00, with no reduction compared to the previous year, provided that there is no decrease in activity. The inability to accommodate the growth of the competition framework is solely due to the approved budget limit. For this reason, sports associations have been asked to review their respective Sports Development Plans, identifying the competition frameworks they wish to enter into a programme contract, within the available budget. At the same time, within the scope of the "local activity and technical structure" of Football Associations, the Regional Government provided support totalling €276,507.66 in 2025, specifically for the operation of technical structures, sports coordination and the regular activities of associations. For 2026, the amount to be contracted for football and futsal, within the local activity scope, is still being calculated. However, it is expected that the overall financial effort of €730,000.00 for all sports will be maintained, an amount that remains stable and represents a very significant percentage of public support for all sports in the Region. It should be noted that the local activity amount to be calculated for football and futsal will be increased by the amount allocated to the technical structures of the three associations. Regarding the direct support for clubs, within the scope of annual national football and futsal championships, as well as the Azores Football Championship, specific programme contracts were signed with the participating entities, under the following terms: • €639,927.00 in the 2024/2025 sporting season, including €283,718.250 for teams participating in the Azores Football Championship; • €595,251.00 for the 2025/2026 season, an amount that may be subject to additional funding, depending on the actual progress of the competitions. These additional funds are earmarked for qualification for second competition phases, final phases and/or the Portuguese Cup, as well as for the calculation of legal increases, classification bonuses and support for athletes receiving training in the Region. They can only be processed and contracted after the end of the sporting season. As regards the Men's Under-19 National Football Championship, it has been publicly clarified that: • The regular phase of the competition became, in the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 seasons, an annual regular competition, providing support for travel and additional costs; • The non-regular phases, resulting from competition qualification processes, depend on the framework defined in the Sports Development Plans established by the associations and the budget available. • Since 2021, this competition has been excluded from the programme contracts signed with the Football Associations, either because the teams have players under professional contracts (which legally prevents the allocation of support) or as a result of the sport's own choice in view of the maximum budget limit, a situation that is not exclusive to football and also occurs in other sports. Many other support projects and programmes have resulted in funding for the direct activities of clubs, namely: "Training and competition activities for youth teams"; "Training coordinators"; "Sports schools"; "Adapted sports"; "Formal training for non-practising sports agents"; "Regional Sports for All Programme - Active Azores"; football tournaments integrated into the "Ethics in Sport" project, among others. Furthermore, it is also important to highlight the indirect support granted to entities, particularly regarding exemption from fees for the use of official sports facilities. In the specific case of football and futsal, particularly in terms of training and competition activities for youth teams, this support has represented an average of approximately €220,000. The Regional Government needs to strengthen the autonomy of entities, ensure financial predictability, and encourage reflection on existing competition models, particularly in football. Additionally, according to the regulations of the Portuguese Football Federation, support for national football competitions is guaranteed up to the Under-17 Men's and Under-19 Women's categories. In this context, the Regional Directorate for Sport considers reasonable to constructively consider and ask you about the possibility of the Federation finding a solution that would allow the Azores to be represented in the National Under-19 Men's Championship, in this case by Sport Club Angrense, as it is a team made up entirely of athletes trained in the Region, at a level that is clearly a priority in terms of training. The three Azores Football Associations have already been informed of the intention to hold a joint meeting to discuss the sport internally and seek a cooperative solution that will enable participation in the championship, which will be consistent with the debate in the regional parliament. In conclusion, it should be reiterated that the Regional Directorate for Sport remains fully available and interested in maintaining and strengthening its institutional relations with the Portuguese Football Federation, and has never sought to shirk its responsibilities. Only through open dialogue, institutional cooperation and recognition of the specific characteristics of an outermost archipelago region consisting of nine islands, each with its own distinct reality, will it be possible to continue promoting the sustainable development of football and sport in the Azores.
January 26, 2026
Press release
Following recent public statements and reports in the regional press regarding an alleged "possible cut in support from the Regional Government" towards football in the Region, the Regional Directorate for Sport considers it appropriate to issue an institutional clarification, with the sole purpose of avoiding misinterpretations and preserving the healthy atmosphere of cooperation that has always been a hallmark in the relations between institutions. In this context, it is important to clarify, objectively and unmistakably, that there have been no budget cuts in the area of sports training projects and annual national competition activities, with the levels of support allocated in previous seasons being maintained. Regarding “regional, national and refereeing” activities, contracted with sports associations, it should be noted that the Regional Government signed programme contracts in 2025 with the three Azores Football Associations, for a total amount of €240,314.00, corresponding to support for regional activities, participation in national competitions under this category and refereeing activities. For the year 2026, the reference amount available for this area remains the same: €240,314.00, with no reduction compared to the previous year, provided that there is no decrease in activity. The inability to accommodate the growth of the competition framework is solely due to the approved budget limit. For this reason, sports associations have been asked to review their respective Sports Development Plans, identifying the competition frameworks they wish to enter into a programme contract, within the available budget. At the same time, within the scope of the "local activity and technical structure" of Football Associations, the Regional Government provided support totalling €276,507.66 in 2025, specifically for the operation of technical structures, sports coordination and the regular activities of associations. For 2026, the amount to be contracted for football and futsal, within the local activity scope, is still being calculated. However, it is expected that the overall financial effort of €730,000.00 for all sports will be maintained, an amount that remains stable and represents a very significant percentage of public support for all sports in the Region. It should be noted that the local activity amount to be calculated for football and futsal will be increased by the amount allocated to the technical structures of the three associations. Regarding the direct support for clubs, within the scope of annual national football and futsal championships, as well as the Azores Football Championship, specific programme contracts were signed with the participating entities, under the following terms: • €639,927.00 in the 2024/2025 sporting season, including €283,718.250 for teams participating in the Azores Football Championship; • €595,251.00 for the 2025/2026 season, an amount that may be subject to additional funding, depending on the actual progress of the competitions. These additional funds are earmarked for qualification for second competition phases, final phases and/or the Portuguese Cup, as well as for the calculation of legal increases, classification bonuses and support for athletes receiving training in the Region. They can only be processed and contracted after the end of the sporting season. As regards the Men's Under-19 National Football Championship, it has been publicly clarified that: • The regular phase of the competition became, in the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 seasons, an annual regular competition, providing support for travel and additional costs; • The non-regular phases, resulting from competition qualification processes, depend on the framework defined in the Sports Development Plans established by the associations and the budget available. • Since 2021, this competition has been excluded from the programme contracts signed with the Football Associations, either because the teams have players under professional contracts (which legally prevents the allocation of support) or as a result of the sport's own choice in view of the maximum budget limit, a situation that is not exclusive to football and also occurs in other sports. Many other support projects and programmes have resulted in funding for the direct activities of clubs, namely: "Training and competition activities for youth teams"; "Training coordinators"; "Sports schools"; "Adapted sports"; "Formal training for non-practising sports agents"; "Regional Sports for All Programme - Active Azores"; football tournaments integrated into the "Ethics in Sport" project, among others. Furthermore, it is also important to highlight the indirect support granted to entities, particularly regarding exemption from fees for the use of official sports facilities. In the specific case of football and futsal, particularly in terms of training and competition activities for youth teams, this support has represented an average of approximately €220,000. The Regional Government needs to strengthen the autonomy of entities, ensure financial predictability, and encourage reflection on existing competition models, particularly in football. Additionally, according to the regulations of the Portuguese Football Federation, support for national football competitions is guaranteed up to the Under-17 Men's and Under-19 Women's categories. In this context, the Regional Directorate for Sport considers reasonable to constructively consider and ask you about the possibility of the Federation finding a solution that would allow the Azores to be represented in the National Under-19 Men's Championship, in this case by Sport Club Angrense, as it is a team made up entirely of athletes trained in the Region, at a level that is clearly a priority in terms of training. The three Azores Football Associations have already been informed of the intention to hold a joint meeting to discuss the sport internally and seek a cooperative solution that will enable participation in the championship, which will be consistent with the debate in the regional parliament. In conclusion, it should be reiterated that the Regional Directorate for Sport remains fully available and interested in maintaining and strengthening its institutional relations with the Portuguese Football Federation, and has never sought to shirk its responsibilities. Only through open dialogue, institutional cooperation and recognition of the specific characteristics of an outermost archipelago region consisting of nine islands, each with its own distinct reality, will it be possible to continue promoting the sustainable development of football and sport in the Azores.
Nota de Imprensa
January 13, 2026
Sofia Ribeiro defines "autonomy" of sports entities as strategic axis for sustainability and merit
The Regional Secretary for Education, Culture and Sport stated today at the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores that public policies for the sector should focus on creating conditions for sports entities to achieve greater independence. "Rather than focusing our political strategy on allocating support, public policies must be based on developing conditions that allow sports clubs and associations to operate with greater autonomy," she said. During the debate on sports support policies, Sofia Ribeiro stressed that the Azorean Government's priority is to invest in regional athletes. "The focus should be on training levels, investing in Azorean athletes," she defended, pointing out that this commitment fosters the development of senior levels and shapes more active and informed citizens. The Regional Secretary rejected generalised views on financial difficulties in the sector, clarifying that specific situations of mismanagement should not be confused with the overall reality. "One cannot generalise situations that are specific to some clubs and that are the result of their own management choices to the entire sports sector," she stressed, adding that, in certain cases, it is these choices that lead to the freezing of funds by creditors or tax obligations. Sofia Ribeiro noted that the autonomy that the Government intends to promote is already visible in procedural changes. For the first time, during the 2025/2026 season, the Government processed 100% of the allocated support for travel and complementary support for national competition activities and the Azores football championship, as well as support for hiring coaches, in a single instalment. "Overall, clubs and associations are beginning 2026 better than ever before, with all their participation fees paid," assured the government official. The effectiveness of public policies was also demonstrated through demographic and sports data. Sofia Ribeiro revealed that the Azores currently have a "record number" of athletes (24,872), coaches and other agents. In terms of high performance, the Region has surpassed national and international podium figures. "The number of participants in national teams has been increasing. The number of medal winners at an international level has been growing, and we have not had any Olympic hopefuls for over a decade," the Regional Secretary pointed out, noting that there are currently four athletes in this category. For Sofia Ribeiro, the current situation shows that the sector is experiencing a moment of vitality that extends beyond subsidies. "Sport in the Azores is much more than just the allocation of support," she said. In this regard, the government official regretted that views biased by political party interests attempt to present a negative perspective that she considers to be "a lack of respect and consideration for the work carried out by those who have dedicated themselves, with quality work, and have achieved results that greatly dignify the Autonomous Region of the Azores."
January 13, 2026
Sofia Ribeiro defines "autonomy" of sports entities as strategic axis for sustainability and merit
The Regional Secretary for Education, Culture and Sport stated today at the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores that public policies for the sector should focus on creating conditions for sports entities to achieve greater independence. "Rather than focusing our political strategy on allocating support, public policies must be based on developing conditions that allow sports clubs and associations to operate with greater autonomy," she said. During the debate on sports support policies, Sofia Ribeiro stressed that the Azorean Government's priority is to invest in regional athletes. "The focus should be on training levels, investing in Azorean athletes," she defended, pointing out that this commitment fosters the development of senior levels and shapes more active and informed citizens. The Regional Secretary rejected generalised views on financial difficulties in the sector, clarifying that specific situations of mismanagement should not be confused with the overall reality. "One cannot generalise situations that are specific to some clubs and that are the result of their own management choices to the entire sports sector," she stressed, adding that, in certain cases, it is these choices that lead to the freezing of funds by creditors or tax obligations. Sofia Ribeiro noted that the autonomy that the Government intends to promote is already visible in procedural changes. For the first time, during the 2025/2026 season, the Government processed 100% of the allocated support for travel and complementary support for national competition activities and the Azores football championship, as well as support for hiring coaches, in a single instalment. "Overall, clubs and associations are beginning 2026 better than ever before, with all their participation fees paid," assured the government official. The effectiveness of public policies was also demonstrated through demographic and sports data. Sofia Ribeiro revealed that the Azores currently have a "record number" of athletes (24,872), coaches and other agents. In terms of high performance, the Region has surpassed national and international podium figures. "The number of participants in national teams has been increasing. The number of medal winners at an international level has been growing, and we have not had any Olympic hopefuls for over a decade," the Regional Secretary pointed out, noting that there are currently four athletes in this category. For Sofia Ribeiro, the current situation shows that the sector is experiencing a moment of vitality that extends beyond subsidies. "Sport in the Azores is much more than just the allocation of support," she said. In this regard, the government official regretted that views biased by political party interests attempt to present a negative perspective that she considers to be "a lack of respect and consideration for the work carried out by those who have dedicated themselves, with quality work, and have achieved results that greatly dignify the Autonomous Region of the Azores."