Court deposes association boss
Brazil faces suspension from FIFA
December 8, 2023, 10:43 a.m
After its sporting misery, football in the country of record world champion Brazil is now apparently sliding into a serious leadership crisis. A court deposes Ednaldo Rodrigues as boss of the association because of irregularities in his election.
In the race to host the 2027 Women’s World Cup, Germany’s rival Brazil is struggling with a major association crisis. A court in the state of Rio de Janeiro has removed Ednaldo Rodrigues from office as president of the national association CBF. He is accused of irregularities that led to his election last year. According to the court order, which the CBF can appeal, a new president must be elected within 30 days. Until then, the head of the country’s sports court, José Perdiz, will take over the business on an interim basis.
The leadership crisis comes at an inopportune time for the Brazilian association. This Friday is the official deadline for the world association FIFA to submit applications for the 2027 Women’s World Cup. In addition to Brazil, Germany is fighting for the contract in a joint application with the Netherlands and Belgium, as well as the USA together with Mexico. The decision on the award should be made on May 17, 2024 at the FIFA Congress in Bangkok.
Legal problems have a tradition in Brazil
The ruling could lead to the association being suspended by FIFA, as the world association’s statutes prohibit government bodies from interfering in the affairs of its national member associations. Brazilian teams, officials and referees would then be banned from international games and events. This would also be a major setback in the association’s efforts to attract Real Madrid’s star coach Carlo Ancelotti to the Seleção next year.
The background to the court decision is an agreement between the CBF and the public prosecutor’s office, which enabled the then interim president Rodrigues to run for office in last year’s elections. His term actually runs until 2026. Rodrigues is the next CBF president to struggle with legal problems. His predecessor Rogério Caboclo was suspended in connection with a sexual harassment case. Previously, Ricardo Teixeira, José Maria Marin and Marco Polo del Nero were involved in corruption cases.
Brazil’s football is currently plagued by major problems. Since the World Cup exit in Qatar last year, the Selecao no longer has a full-time coach. Current Real coach Carlo Ancelotti is set to take over next year. In qualifying for the 2026 World Cup tournament in the USA, Canada and Mexico, the five-time World Cup champion recently suffered three defeats in a row.