The 1999 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A was the 43rd edition of the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, the top-level of professional football in Brazil.
Overview
It was contested by 22 teams, and Corinthians won the championship.
First phase
Championship knockout phase
Quarterfinals
TeamsScoresTeam 1PointsTeam 21st leg2nd legReplay Agg. Corinthians 4–2 Guarani0–02–01–13–1 Ponte Preta 3–6 São Paulo2–32–12–36–7 Vasco 2–5 Vitória4–52–21–17–8 Cruzeiro 0–6 Atlético Mineiro2–42–3Not played4–7
Semifinals
TeamsScoresTeam 1PointsTeam 21st leg2nd legReplay Agg. Corinthians 6–0 São Paulo3–22–1Not played5–3Vitória 3–6 Atlético Mineiro0–32–10–32–7
Finals
First leg
Second leg
Replay
Tied 4–4 on points, Corinthians won 4–3 on aggregate.
Final standings
Top scorers
Pos.ScorerClubGoals1 Guilherme Atlético Mineiro282 Alex AlvesCruzeiro21 LuizãoCorinthians213 Marcelinho CariocaCorinthians154 EdmundoVasco13 DodôSantos135 FrançaSão Paulo12 RomárioFlamengo12
Copa Libertadores playoff qualifier
Preliminary Stage TeamsResultsTeam 1PointsTeam 21st leg2nd legSport Recife3–4Portuguesa3–10–3
First Stage TeamsResultsTeam 1PointsTeam 21st leg2nd legInternacional2–1Flamengo1–01–1Grêmio3–1Santos2–11–0Botafogo2–4Coritiba1–11–3Portuguesa3–3Atlético Paranaense3–10–2
Second Stage TeamsResultsTeam 1PointsTeam 21st leg2nd legGrêmio2–2Internacional1–11–1Coritiba3–5Atlético Paranaense1–42–1Ponte Preta4–4Vasco da Gama3–21–2Guarani3–4Cruzeiro3–10–3
Third Phase TeamsResultsTeam 1PointsTeam 21st leg2nd legInternacional2–3Atlético Paranaense1–11–2Vasco da Gama5–5Cruzeiro3–12–4
Semifinals TeamsResultsTeam 1PointsTeam 21st leg2nd legAtlético Paranaense5–4São Paulo4–21–2Cruzeiro5–2Vitória3–12–1
Finals TeamsResultsTeam 1PointsTeam 21st leg2nd legAtlético Paranaense4–2Cruzeiro3–01–2
Relegation The criterion for relegation to the Série B in 1999 was the average of points obtained in 1999 and 1998. The four teams with the smallest averages would be relegated. The CBF-defined formula for the point average (PA) was:
PA = ( (P98/23) + (P99/21) ) / 2
P98 being the number of points in 1998 and P99 the number of points in 1999.
As to Gama and Botafogo-SP, that had ascended from the Série B and as such, didn't dispute the 1998 Série A, the formula was reduced to:
PA = P99/21
Originally, the six worst point averages were:
Gama: 1,238 Internacional: 1,219 Botafogo: 1,178 Paraná: 1,093 Juventude: 1,089 Botafogo-SP: 1,000
Which would mean that Botafogo, Paraná, Juventude and Botafogo-SP would be relegated. However, the matches of São Paulo against Internacional and Botafogo were annulled and the points gained by São Paulo in both matches (three against Botafogo, one against Internacional) were given to both clubs, due to the fielding of the ineligible player Sandro Hiroshi in both matches. So, the six worst point averages became:
Internacional: 1,267 Botafogo: 1,249 Gama: 1,238 Paraná: 1,093 Juventude: 1,089 Botafogo-SP: 1,000
This meant that Botafogo escaped relegation and Gama joined Botafogo-SP, Juventude and Paraná in the Série B in 2000.
Gama did not accept this decision and appealed. The judicial disputes lasted months and CBF was stopped from organizing the 2000 Campeonato Brasileiro. The Clube dos 13 assumed the organization of the championship as Copa João Havelange, with the participation of 116 teams divided into 3 groups.
Team Relegation 1Corinthians 46 44 90 44 2Cruzeiro 37 42 79 44 3Palmeiras 45 31 76 44 4Santos 41 30 71 44 5Coritiba 42 29 71 44 6Vasco da Gama 34 36 70 44 7Atlético Mineiro 36 33 69 44 8Vitória 30 34 64 44 9Flamengo 33 29 62 44 10Ponte Preta 26 35 61 44 11São Paulo 27 34 61 44 12Guarani 25 33 58 44 13Atlético Paranaense 27 31 58 44 14Grêmio 36 22 58 44 15Portuguesa 40 18 58 44 16Sport do Recife 40 17 57 44 17Internacional 32 24 56 44 18Botafogo 29 26 55 44 19Gama — 26 26 21 2000 Brasileirão Série B 20Paraná 24 24 48 44 21Juventude 26 22 48 44 22Botafogo (Ribeirão Preto) — 21 21 21
References CBF awarded Botafogo and Internacional 1–0 away wins due to São Paulo footballer Sandro Hiroshi gate. Originally São Paulo had defeated Botafogo 6–1 home and drawn 2–2 home with Internacional.