Brazil by business!

Believe it or not, the Brazilian football team is currently not being picked by the manager, but by the commercial partners of the Canarinho, according to Brazilian newspaper 'O Estado de S. Paulo.

The Portuguese language daily said that it has obtained a document from the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) to support its claim.

The document -- a 10-year contract agreed to in 2006 between CBF and Internacional Sports Events (ISE) -- clearly outlines that the list of players called-up by the Brazilian manager must match the criteria established by their commercial partners.

This "partner", ISE, is based in the Cayman Islands and don't have a headquarters, let alone any employees.

The main criterion is that the player must be marketable and therefore generate revenue and the manager may not call up other players without prior consent. The findings also showed that no fresh player can play in the Brazilian football team until they generate as much money as the player they would be replacing. This means that the national coach may not call someone who he assumes to be the best for the team, but those who are the most marketable and generate more money than their counterparts.

The document delves deeper into footballing matters, suggesting that the top players, considered part of the main team, must start every single match, with no space for newcomers whatsoever, until they have a proper "marketing value".

If these claims are true, Brazilian football will be rocked to its core as it suggests that Dunga, Mano Menezes and Luis Felipe Scolari -- the team's managers since 2006 -- did not have the final call on team selection.

Any breach of this arrangement would result in the commercial partners paying only half the agreed match fee of 660,000 pounds and in the event of one of these "elite players" being injured, the CBF would have to send ISE a medical certificate and agree on a suitable replacement.

A clause states: "Any changes to the list shall be communicated in writing to ISE and confirmed by mutual agreement.

"In this case, the CBF will endeavour to replace with new players of a similar level, with respect to marketing value, technical skill and reputation."

In addition, the contract states all broadcast rights and copyright are signed over in full to ISE with any violation resulting in a fine of 630,000 pounds.

"All terms and conditions of this agreement shall be treated as confidential by the parties and neither will disclose them," concluded the document.

- Newspaper Estadao claims the Brazil national team has been selected by its commercial partners since 2006

- It claims only players 'marketable' enough are picked

- Estadao have disclosed a contract signed by the Brazilian  FA and a Cayman Islands-based company called ISE 

- It suggests the manager has little or no say in team selection

- Certain elite players chosen by ISE must feature in every Brazil match

- ISE decide on replacements on the bases of how 'marketable' they are