Julio Casares Seeks R$10m From Meta and Challenges São Paulo Expulsion
Julio Casares has launched separate legal challenges involving Meta and São Paulo, with the former club president seeking compensation over the loss of his Instagram account and contesting his expulsion from the club’s membership structure. Casares, who left his post in January before impeachment proceedings, is claiming R$10 million (£1.5m/$2m) from Meta after a five-month account suspension that he says damaged a follower base built over a decade.
Five-month account closure at centre of Meta claim
Casares alleges that coordinated false reports led to the deactivation of his Instagram profile, which had been used as a direct channel to supporters, journalists and the wider public during his time at São Paulo. The account had around 600,000 followers before it was taken down.
When access was restored after five months, the figure had fallen to 562,000. It has since declined further to 553,000, which forms a central part of his argument that the interruption caused measurable professional and reputational harm to a monetised account.
His legal team maintains that the reduction cannot be treated as a short-lived inconvenience, arguing that it weakened Casares’ digital reach, public profile and a communication platform developed organically over many years.
Casares says efforts to resolve the problem through Meta’s support channels did not succeed, leaving him to obtain a court injunction. His case also argues that, as a senior citizen, he was left without meaningful assistance by what it describes as an automated and ineffective customer-service process.
Former president alleges organised reporting campaign
The former São Paulo chief contends that opponents exploited the platform’s reporting tools at a particularly difficult moment in his public life. His lawyers say third parties celebrated the disappearance of the account and circulated claims that Casares had voluntarily left social media.
Casares has faced criticism for his frequent online activity during his presidency, including from supporters and political opponents. However, he insists that the profile was an important working link with fans and the media rather than an artificially assembled audience.
- Casares built an Instagram following of approximately 600,000 over 10 years.
- His account was removed after what he alleges were coordinated false reports.
- The profile remained unavailable for five months before a court injunction helped secure its return.
- The follower total stood at 562,000 on reinstatement and is now 553,000.
- Casares is seeking R$10 million in damages from Meta.
São Paulo expulsion and management allegations also challenged
In a separate action, Casares is asking the courts to overturn São Paulo’s findings of reckless management and annul the decision to remove him from the club’s membership. The Deliberative Council ordered that expulsion on September 10.
His petition asks for his administration to be recognised as regular, conducted in good faith and approved through the appropriate club bodies. Casares denies any misuse of funds, improper purpose or reckless conduct, maintaining that the accusations emerged from an internal political dispute.
The defence points to his election wins in 2020 and 2023, as well as the honours achieved during his spell in charge. São Paulo won the Campeonato Paulista in 2021, finished runners-up in the CONMEBOL Sudamericana in 2022, lifted the Copa do Brasil in 2023 and the Supercopa do Brasil in 2024. The club’s 2025 Copinha success has also been cited.
Casares’ lawyers further point to commercial and financial developments, including the Morumbis naming-rights agreement, new sponsorship deals and financial restructuring. They argue that financial, accounting, legal and compliance specialists were responsible for technical decisions and accounting classifications, rather than those matters resting solely with the president.
Club have 15 days to respond as league schedule continues
Earlier in October, São Paulo were given 15 days to submit their formal response to Casares’ court petition. The legal disputes continue while the first team prepares for a demanding Campeonato Brasileiro run.
- Casares is pursuing R$10 million in damages over the Instagram suspension.
- He says the account’s audience dropped from 600,000 to 553,000 following the five-month absence.
- His separate case seeks to reverse his September 10 expulsion from São Paulo membership.
- São Paulo host Vasco da Gama on Saturday night.
- Further away league fixtures follow against Mirassol on October 24 and Bahia four days later.
