A few days ago, a court ruling ordered the removal of Brazil’s soccer president Ednaldo Rodrigues from office. The CBF originally wanted to appeal against this decision, but has now reversed its position.
The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has withdrawn its appeal to the Brazilian Supreme Court against the dismissal of Rodrigues. According to the AFP news agency, the 71-year-old himself decided against it.
Rodrigues cited the “delicate moment the Brazilian Football Confederation is in” due to “overlapping legal disputes that have jeopardized the stability of sports management” in his decision. Rodrigues will not be available for re-election, and Samir Xaud from the Amazon state of Roraima is now considered the frontrunner for the presidency in the decision scheduled for May 25.
The reason for Rodrigues’ removal from office was a potentially forged signature. The 71-year-old’s employment contract is therefore invalid, according to the court, and new elections have been ordered in the near future.
Ancelotti arrives in the midst of the crisis
At that point, the CBF executive committee’s lawyers were still complaining of a “direct violation” of the constitutional order and applied for an injunction to suspend the election. In their lawsuit, they also described the appointment of interim president Fernando José Sarney as “illegal” and warned that the decision could lead to international sanctions against the Selecao.
Just a few days after Carlo Ancelotti was appointed coach of the national team, the Brazilian Football Confederation continues to face a serious crisis, with Ancelotti set to officially take up his new position just one day after the new election.
Brazilian football legend Ronaldo also reacted harshly to Rodrigues’ dismissal, accusing the 27 state presidents of Brazil of “smear tactics,” and numerous other Brazilian footballers also voiced their concerns.
