The transfer of players in the FIFA system and the migration of Brazilians to Europe (1920-1970)

Abstract The aim of this article is to analyze the transfer of football players within the FIFA’s system, especially Brazilians who went to Spain and Italy. These transfers bring to the debate the context in which athletes belong, that of immigration. Through FIFA’s statutes and regulations, we sought to understand the conditions of player transfers and, based on historiography and various sources of research, we sought to draw up a history of Brazilian footballers going to Europe from 1920 until the early 1970s.