Rio de Janeiro, May 16 (H.S.): A significant administrative upheaval has occurred within the Brazil Football Federation (CBF). A judge in Rio de Janeiro removed CBF President Ednaldo Rodrigues from his position on Thursday and ordered that new elections be held as soon as possible.
This decision came shortly after Rodrigues appointed Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti as the new coach of the Brazil national football team just a few days ago. Now, Rodrigues has filed an appeal in the country’s Supreme Court, seeking to be reinstated.
**Rodrigues’ Term Declared Invalid, But Legal Hurdles Remain**
Rodrigues was re-elected as CBF president until March 2030, but Judge Gabriel de Oliveira Jefiro declared the agreement that conferred the validity of his first term as invalid. The court stated that without that agreement, Rodrigues was not eligible to run for re-election.
**Vice President Sarne Takes Command**
Following this decision, CBF’s senior vice president Fernando Sarne has taken responsibility for the organization and has initiated the process for new elections. He stated, All sporting activities and existing contracts will be secured. However, it is unclear whether Ancelotti’s contract is still legally valid.
Speaking to TV Globo, Sarne said, I am temporarily in this position. My goal is to conduct elections as soon as possible so that the court battle can be resolved. Football will continue.
This is the second time that Rodrigues has been removed from office by court order. Previously, in December 2023, the court had also removed him from his position while he was in talks with Ancelotti. However, the Supreme Court later reinstated him.
In January 2024, CBF’s vice presidents had reached a mutual agreement to recognize Rodrigues’ first term so he could run for election again. But now, Judge Jefiro has declared that agreement illegal due to doubts about the mental state of one member who signed it—86-year-old Antonio Carlos Nunes.
According to the judge, Nunes was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2018, and since then, his mental capacity has been questioned. The court had scheduled a hearing on Nunes’ mental state for Monday, but it was postponed just hours after the announcement of Ancelotti’s appointment.
The CBF has not yet made any official comments on the entire matter.
Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
