São Paulo Court Authorizes Eviction of Sports Club from Campo de Marte

A São Paulo court has granted the city administration permission to retake possession of a significant area within Campo de Marte currently occupied by the Grêmio Esportivo e Recreativo Cruz da Esperança club. The decision, issued by Judge Vanessa Velloso Silva Saad Picoli of the 9th Public Treasury Court, also authorizes the use of police force to evict the club and demolish any constructions on the nearly 15,000-square-meter site.

The court order dictates that the club must vacate the premises "under penalty of forced eviction" and face daily fines. This ruling follows a previous authorization granted to the prefecture in March, which was temporarily blocked by a preliminary injunction obtained by the Grêmio club in May.

Founded in 1958, the Cruz da Esperança club has expressed its dismay on social media, lamenting the imminent threat of demolition and calling for community support. Councilwoman Luna Zarattini has intervened, submitting a dossier to the National Historical and Artistic Heritage Institute (IPhan) advocating for the "safeguarding of capoeira and Afro-Brazilian matrix religions." Zarattini highlighted the club's long history of community engagement, including organizing football matches, samba-rock dances, samba circles, capoeira rodas, and various religious and social activities, particularly those related to Afro-Brazilian traditions, since the 1970s.

The area in question is part of the Municipal Park Campo de Marte project, established by a 2024 decree. The administration under Mayor Ricardo Nunes plans for the park to span 400,000 square meters and serve approximately 300,000 people. The concession contract includes an investment of R$ 202 million and features five football fields, provisions for maintaining amateur football, and multi-use and social areas.

The court's decision allows for the eviction to proceed at any moment, placing the future of the Grêmio Cruz da Esperança and its community activities in jeopardy, despite efforts by council members to protect its cultural significance.

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under penalty of forced eviction