SAO PAULO: The Brazilian football confederation says 355 players left the country in the first six months of the year, the most since 2011.

The confederation said Tuesday the transfers totaled $98.8 million, compared to $146.7 million four years ago, when 370 players left the country on loans, full transfers or after ending their contracts with Brazilian clubs.

The confederation said a few factors prompted the increase in the number of players leaving the country, including the need for local teams to begin abiding by financial fair play rules to avoid punishment for not paying players' salaries on time.

Last year, 327 players left the country to play abroad, totaling $122.7 million in transfers.

The transfer window for Brazilian clubs to sign players from foreign teams ended on Tuesday.