# Law No. 6354 of September 2, 1976

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105650437](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105650437)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-6354-of-september-2-1976

## Summary
**Law No. 6354 of September 2, 1976** is a Brazilian federal statute that regulates the labor relations of professional football players. Enacted during the military dictatorship under President Ernesto Geisel, the law establishes specific legal norms, contractual requirements, and penalties governing the employment, registration, and transfer of athletes within Brazil.

## Key Facts
- **Official Title:** Lei nº 6354, de 2 de setembro de 1976.
- **Subject Matter:** Regulates the labor relations of the professional football athlete ("Atleta Profissional de Futebol").
- **Classification:** Instance of a **statute** (a formal written document that creates law).
- **Jurisdiction:** Brazil.
- **Promulgation Date:** September 2, 1976.
- **Approving Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil, specifically President **Ernesto Geisel**.
- **Publication Location:** Brasília.
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese.
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 6354/1976.
- **LexML ID:** `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1976-09-02;6354`.
- **Official URL:** Available at `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/l6354.htm`.
- **Legal Digest Summary:** "DISPÕE SOBRE AS RELAÇÕES DE TRABALHO DO ATLETA PROFISSIONAL DE FUTEBOL E DA OUTRAS PROVIDENCIAS." (Dispouses on the labor relations of the professional football athlete and provides other measures).

## FAQs
**What is the primary purpose of Law No. 6354/1976?**
The law specifically regulates the employment relationship of professional football players in Brazil. It sets the legal framework for contracts, registration, transfers, and the rights and obligations of players and clubs.

**Who approved and enacted this law?**
The law was approved by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil. It was promulgated on September 2, 1976, by President Ernesto Geisel, who served as the head of the executive branch at that time.

**What specific labor topics does the law cover?**
The statute addresses a wide range of labor topics including time limits (*prazo*), registration (*registro*), contracts (*contrato*), recruitment (*contratação*), and transfer protocols. It also defines penalties (*penalidade*), social security obligations (*previdencia social*), and employee rights (*direitos*), while referencing the broader Consolidation of Labor Laws (CLT).

**To which legal system does this law belong?**
Law No. 6354 is a federal statute applicable throughout Brazil. It is an instance of statutory law, classified as a formal written document that creates law, and is part of the Brazilian legal system's body of legislation.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 6354 of September 2, 1976, represents a critical development in Brazilian sports law and labor rights. Before its enactment, the labor rights of football players were often governed by sports entity statutes and ambiguous practices; this statute formalized their status as employees under specific federal regulation. By defining clear rules for contracts, transfers, and professional registration, it provided legal security for both athletes and clubs, integrating professional football into the broader framework of Brazilian labor legislation. Its existence acknowledges the unique economic and social role of football in Brazil, ensuring that those who practice it professionally are afforded specific legal protections and obligations distinct from general labor laws.

## Notable For
- **Specialized Labor Regulation:** It is notable for being a federal statute dedicated exclusively to a specific professional category—football players—highlighting the cultural and economic importance of the sport in Brazil.
- **Historical Context:** Enacted during the administration of President Ernesto Geisel, it reflects the government's legislative involvement in sports management during the military dictatorship period.
- **Comprehensive Scope:** The law is distinguished by its extensive coverage of the athlete's professional life, detailing everything from "definition" and "registration" to "transfer," "exemption," and "penalties."
- **Integration with General Labor Law:** It explicitly references the Consolidation of Labor Laws (CLT), bridging the gap between general labor statutes and the specific needs of professional athletes.

## Body

### Legislative Definition and Classification
Law No. 6354 is formally classified as a **statute**. In the context of legal ontology, a statute is defined as a formal written document that creates law, encompassing acts, executive orders, and by-laws. This law functions as a manifestation of statutory law within Brazil, serving as the official record of legal rules enacted by the government. As a legal document, it is considered part of the public domain, consistent with the principle that official legal texts are not subject to copyright.

### Promulgation and Authority
The statute was promulgated on **September 2, 1976**, in the capital city of **Brasília**. The approving authority was the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil**, with the act of promulgation performed by President **Ernesto Geisel**. The law carries the legal citation **Lei nº 6354/1976** and is identified in the Brazilian legal system via the LexML identifier `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1976-09-02;6354`.

### Subject Matter and Scope
The law's primary focus is the **professional football athlete** ("Atleta Profissional de Futebol"). The official digest of the law states: "DISPÕE SOBRE AS RELAÇÕES DE TRABALHO DO ATLETA PROFISSIONAL DE FUTEBOL E DA OUTRAS PROVIDENCIAS." The statute addresses a comprehensive list of legal concepts essential to the profession, including:
- **Administrative Procedures:** Registration (*Registro*), emission (*Emissão*), and definition (*Definição*).
- **Contractual Elements:** Contract (*Contrato*), recruitment (*Contratação*), time limits (*Prazo*), and transfer (*Transferencia*).
- **Rights and Obligations:** Rights (*Direitos*), obligation (*Obrigatoriedade*), professional exercise (*Exercicio Profissional*), and work (*Trabalho*).
- **Regulatory Oversight:** Competency (*Competencia*), regulation (*Regulamentação*), and the role of the Labor Court (*Justiça Do Trabalho*).
- **Financial and Social Aspects:** Payment (*Pagamento*), social security (*Previdencia Social*), and participation (*Participação*).
- **Enforcement:** Penalties (*Penalidade*), limitations (*Limitação*), and exemption (*Dispensa*).

### Jurisdiction and Context
The law applies to the jurisdiction of **Brazil**. It was created within the context of Brazilian federal legislation and is written in **Brazilian Portuguese**. It operates alongside the **Consolidation of Labor Laws (CLT)**, which is explicitly cited as a related subject, indicating that this special law supplements the general labor framework for this specific category of workers.

### Access and Identification
The full text of Law No. 6354 is accessible to the public via the official government portal at `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/l6354.htm`. The law is indexed under the WikiProject Brazilian Laws, reflecting its status as a significant legislative act. Its structured data properties confirm its relationship to broader concepts such as "legal norm," "employee," and "fine," cementing its role in the legal landscape of Brazilian labor relations.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1976-09-02;6354)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=6354&ano=1976&data=02/09/1976&ato=94dUzaU50MnRVT71a)
3. LexML Brasil