According to THESPIKE Brazil and Bruno Povoleri, the Brazilian organization Corinthians Esports — best known for its storied football club — has failed to pay several members of its VALORANT rosters, despite initially promising to settle all outstanding payments by the end of May. As of July 21, however, the debts would remain unpaid, reaching a three-month delay.

The salary delays impact two rosters: Corinthians’ team in the Challengers League (VCL) Brazil and its squad competing in the VCT Game Changers Brazil circuit. Both teams joined the VALORANT scene earlier this year. The VCL side finished 3rd in Stage 1, while the Game Changers lineup secured back-to-back 4th place finishes in Stages 1 and 2 of the region’s women and marginalized gender circuit.

Contract Structure and Payment Promises

In an interview with the Meu Timão portal on July 9, Corinthians Esports president Milson Januário confirmed the existence of unpaid salaries in lineups from different sports, but claimed that "there was no delay of more than 60 days for any lineup or athlete." Despite Corinthians’ original pledge to settle April and May wages by the end of May, no payments had been made as of July 21, according to THESPIKE — officially pushing the delay past the three-month mark.

It is important to note that the structure of Corinthians Esports' contracts with its VALORANT teams is similar to those used in Brazilian football. Salaries are divided between Consolidation of Labor Laws (CLT) and image rights. For Esports, the club divides these two shares equally: 50% in service contracts and 50% in image rights, an amount which the organization commits to pay between the 5th and 20th of the month following the month worked.

Still, according to THESPIKE and Bruno Povoleri, Corinthians has informed some VALORANT players and staff members that payments are now expected to be processed between Wednesday, July 23 and early August.