MEDIA COVERAGE ON BRAZILIAN MEN'S FUTSAL: NATIONAL SENIOR TEAM PLAYERS' PERSPECTIVE

Brazil has many futsal practitioners and is the main winner of world championships; professionalism is increasing in the country. Thus, the media play a key role in attracting consumers and investors. This study investigates the perspective of Brazilian elite male players on the media coverage. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 national team members. After players' discourses underwent thematic analysis, analytic categories were subjected to Pierre Bourdieu's Theory of Fields. According to players, futsal is discredited in sports media coverage. hampering the attraction of investors and career development. Players propose orthodox actions to adapt to the rules of the field in order to gain economic and symbolic capitals that may improve their work conditions and social status.