Brazilian Court Fires CBF President Days After Ancelotti's Appointment

JAKARTA - The Rio de Janeiro Court ordered the Brazilian Football Federation Council (CBF) to be removed from their posts, including CBF President Ednaldo Rodrigues, on Thursday, May 15, 2025, local time.

Fernando Sarney, co-president of CBF who asked for Rodrigues' dismissal, was appointed interim president and assigned to hold elections as soon as possible.

Rodrigues, who was successfully re-elected in March 2025, faced his second dismissal just three days after coach Carlo Ancelotti's announcement as the new manager of Brazil's National Team, in preparation for the 2026 World Cup.

The CBF told Reuters it would not immediately comment.

The court case concerns the alleged forgery of signatures of former CBF President Antonio Carlos Nunes de Lima, in an agreement with Rodrigues earlier this year.

The agreement effectively allows Rodrigues to be re-elected as the leader of the organization until 2030.

In its ruling, Rio de Janeiro court judge Gabriel de Oliveira Zefiro said that Nunes' defense mentioned health problems that prevented him from attending trial, adding that the former president's mental capacity had been in doubt since 2018, when he was diagnosed with brain cancer.

"I declare null and void by the law of the agreement signed between the parties, which was previously approved by the High Court, due to the mental inability and possible forgery of Antonio Carlos Nunes de Lima's signature," the judge said.

"As a result, the logical consequence is the acknowledgment of the current CBF administration's invalidity."

"This entity cannot remain without a leader and it is very important to hold a legitimate general election, in accordance with the law," he said again.

Rodrigues had previously been removed from his post as President of CBF, in December 2023, following the decision of the Rio de Janeiro Justice Court, after a dispute over the CBF election process.

However, a month later, Brazil's Justice Minister, Gilmar Mendes, ordered a restoration of his post, citing the risk of the Brazilian National Team being banned by FIFA.

However, FIFA ruled out sanctions after Rodrigues' return for not accepting government interference in football matters.