May 29 – New Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) President Samir Xaud has promised to reduce the state championships to 11 match days, targeting reform of what were Brazil’s first professional competitions.
“One of the first changes is the reduction of the dates for the state championships,” Xaud said. “We are planning to have 11 dates starting next year. It is a simple demonstration that we really want to see a change. We will start off on the right foot.”
This season’s state championships spanned sixteen match days, running from January 12 to March 26. Once the cornerstone of Brazilian football – especially at the grassroots level – these regional tournaments have gradually lost their prestige amid the growing prominence of national leagues and continental competitions
For the country’s major clubs, the state championships now function primarily as a pre-season warm-up ahead of the national league’s April kickoff, yet they continue to crowd an already overloaded calendar. This year, Brazilian clubs competing in both the Copa Libertadores and the Club World Cup could face as many as 80 matches over the course of the season.
The new CBF boss added: “We are already talking to the presidents (of the state federations) about the dates. I don’t believe we will have any problems. The state championships will now have to adapt to the CBF rules.”
Xaud took office earlier this week after succeeding Ednaldo Rodrigues, who fell from grace over an alleged false signature for a document that settled his first election.
However the new man in charge of Brazilian football failed to get the backing of some major clubs, who boycotted the election over its process, with the state federations holding the majority of the vote and always forming the power base of the CBF.
Promising reform of the CBF itself, Xaud said: “The CBF will now have decentralised management. We will decentralise power. We have to do this for all the characters in the institution, giving them autonomy to make decisions and work. I believe that this way, we will be able to get the best out of each excellent professional here.”
Contact the writer of this story Samindra Kunti at moc.l1748585156labto1748585156ofdlr1748585156owedi1748585156sni@i1748585156tnuk.1748585156ardni1748585156mas1748585156