A court in Rio de Janeiro has ordered the dismissal of Ednaldo Rodrigues, head of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), over suspicions that a signature on his 2025 employment contract was forged. The court ruled that one of the people who signed the contract was mentally unfit at the time, making the contract “null and void.”
New Leadership Elections to Be Held
The judge also called for new elections to be held for the Brazilian Football Confederation leadership. This decision is another setback for Brazilian football, which had recently received good news with the announcement that Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti will become the new coach of the national team later this month.
Ednaldo Rodrigues Denies Wrongdoing
Before the ruling, Rodrigues, the first Black president of the CBF, insisted the contract was valid. He had faced legal troubles before, having been temporarily suspended in 2023 after questions about the fairness of his 2022 election. However, he was reinstated by a Supreme Court order after FIFA warned that Brazil could face sanctions for outside interference.
Controversy Over Support Buying
Rodrigues, who was unanimously re-elected in March until 2030 after rival Ronaldo withdrew, has also been accused of buying support from regional football leaders by giving them large salary increases. These claims came from an investigation by Brazilian magazine Piaui.
Brazil’s Football Challenges Continue
Rodrigues was involved in bringing Ancelotti on board, a move seen as a chance to revive Brazil’s football after a tough period. The national team suffered a humiliating 4-1 defeat against Argentina in March, leading to the firing of then-coach Dorival Junior. Brazil, five-time World Cup winners, currently sit fourth in South American qualifying for the 2026 World Cup in the US, Mexico, and Canada.
