MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Brazilian Football Confederation chief sacked... Again

The son of former President José Sarney was appointed at the helm of the CBF on an interim basis

A Rio de Janeiro court ordered Thursday the dismissal of Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) President Ednaldo Rodrigues, claiming his appointment to the position was null since it involved a suspected forged signature by former CBF president Antonio Carlos Nunes de Lima, who has been deemed mentally incapable at the time of signing.

The CBF complied, appointing Vice-President Fernando José Sarney as acting president and planning new elections, while appealing the ruling. The son of former Brazilian President José Sarney (1985-1990), he was one of the whistleblowers who uncovered the alleged irregularities.

Thursday's was Rodrigues’ second dismissal, following a temporary suspension in 2023, which was reversed after FIFA and Conmebol interventions.

Rodrigues was planning to introduce the Italian Carlo Ancelotti as the new coach of Brazil’s national team on May 26, as they face key 2026 World Cup qualifiers in June against Ecuador and Paraguay. They currently stand fourth and struggling to reach the 2026 finals in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

“I declare the agreement signed between the parties null and void,” Judge Gabriel Zefiro ruled. Therefore, “I determine that the current CBF management team be removed,” he added. “The strength of the evidence brought to light leads to the inescapable conclusion of a fact, even an obvious one: Colonel Nunes has long been incapable of consciously expressing his will,” the magistrate also pointed out.

“Colonel Nunes signed with total conviction,” claimed Rodrigues in Asuncion, where he was attending FIFA's annual congress.

Rodrigues, 71, was unanimously re-elected in March as head of the CBF for the 2026-2030 term. He was the only contender after former star Ronaldo Nazário withdrew his candidacy. But he had already been temporarily suspended in 2023, after the Judiciary annulled the elections that led him to that position.