the lpf ceased operation in 1917. until 1926, the apea remained the only league in são paulo. stronger teams, larger crowds and players such neco (corinthians) and arthur friedenreich (paulistano) contributed to the "footballmania" that converted football from "foreigner's fun" to brazil's most popular sport. debates surrounded the issue of whether football should professionalize or remain a purely amateur endeavor. paulistano, the most trophied team at the time, refused to become professional and departed in 1925 to create the liga de amadores de futebol (league of football amateurs) [laf]. competition between the two leagues fueled expansion of the teams, as clubs from upstate began to join.