December 8 – Ednaldo Rodrigues has been removed from his post as the boss of Brazilian football following a court order, prompting a new crisis at the Confederation of Brazilian Football (CBF).
A court in Rio de Janeiro annulled the 2022 CBF assembly that elected Rodrigues as CBF chairman until 2026, naming the president of the Superior Court of Sports Justive José Perdiz as the CBF’s interim head. He is tasked with organising fresh elections within 30 days.
Former CBF vice-presidents who lost their positions when the CBF signed an agreement with the public prosecutor’s office over the electoral process in 2022, subsequently moved against Rodrigues. The CBF said through a spokesperson that they will study the decision in the coming days.
On the sidelines of the Copa America draw in Miami, CBF vice-president Roberto Goes said that ‘everyone was taken by surprise.’
However, a few weeks ago, the CBF announced Eduardo Gussem, a former attorney general of Rio de Janeiro, as a new integrity officer in a move that some considered political by Rodrigues to shore up his own position.
“FIFA has been made aware that an agreement concluded between CBF and the Public Attorney’s office of Rio de Janeiro may now apparently be at risk of being cancelled or amended by local courts,” said the world governing body in a statement.
“We understand that a possible cancellation of or modification to such agreement could impact on the outcome of the elections of the CBF Executive Board, which took place on 23 March 2022. We would like to remind CBF that FIFA member associations are obliged to manage their affairs independently and without undue influence from third parties, including any state authorities.”
FIFA did not exclude that sanctions might be applied. In a separate statement, the South American governing body Conmebol also emphasised the independence of the CBF.
A FIFA Council member, Rodrigues is seen as an ally of Gianni Infantino. He succeeded Rogerio Caboclo, who left under a cloud after allegations of harassment and alcohol abuse.
Rodrigues might become the latest CBF president in a long line of to exit in disgrace following in the footsteps of his predecessor as well as Ricardo Teixeira, José Maria Marin and Marco Polo Del Nero.
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