Isolated at CBF, Ednaldo approaches according to Dorival – 01/07/2024 – Sport

Zagallo’s wake at the headquarters of the CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation), in Rio de Janeiro, had Ednaldo Rodrigues as a kind of master of ceremonies. As president of the entity, he acted as host of the ceremony, which did not hide – or, on the other hand, reveal – the turbulent environment.

While welcoming those who came to pay tribute to the four-time world champion and avoiding questions about the next coach of the Brazilian team – it seems that it will be Dorival Júnior –, the leader tried to smile alongside Reinaldo Carneiro Bastos, one of his vice-presidents. A person who works for the CBF described the situation as “a knife fight in the dark”.

Reappointed last Thursday (4) to the post of president with an injunction from STF (Supreme Federal Court) minister Gilmar Mendes, Ednaldo is one of the characters in a behind-the-scenes war in the confederation. The injunction does not guarantee him a bright future, as the entity’s general assembly can remove him.

There are conversations in this regard, and at the center of them is Reinaldo Carneiro Bastos, who is also president of the FPF (São Paulo Football Federation). In the case of new elections, he is the favorite to take the seat, with competition from Flávio Zveiter.

Bastos and Rubens Lopes, president of Ferj (Football Federation of the State of Rio de Janeiro), were the only two vice-presidents of the CBF at the wake, even though it was held at the confederation’s headquarters. There is an isolation for Ednaldo, who did not meet his other six vice-presidents at the ceremony. And the two who showed up aren’t exactly staunch allies.

Since being reappointed to the presidency – the case will still be evaluated by the STF plenary, as the TJ-RJ (Rio de Janeiro Court of Justice) is contesting an agreement that allowed his election –, Rodrigues has sought to demonstrate that he is secure in his position. But he made quick decisions, before new bad weather.

One of them was the dismissal of coach Fernando Diniz, who had been leading the Brazilian team on an interim basis, waiting for Carlo Ancelotti. Ednaldo said he had a verbal agreement with the Italian, who never confirmed the agreement and, while the president was away, he signed the renewal of his contract with Real Madrid.

Without Ancelotti and faced with a historically bad start from Diniz, the president defined Dorival Júnior as the target. He advanced in conversations with the São Paulo coach, who has not yet given a definitive answer. At the Morumbi club, however, the departure is already taken for granted, and the directors are looking for a replacement.

Even though Dorival is worried about the CBF’s “knife fight in the dark”, he sees the national team’s invitation as the opportunity he was waiting for in his career. It made him feel calmer to know that he also had the support of Reinaldo Carneiro Bastos. To remove him from São Paulo, the confederation will pay the termination fine of his contract, in the region of R$4 million.

If confirmed, the hiring will be closely monitored by representatives from FIFA (International Football Federation) and Conmebol (South American Football Confederation). The two institutions arrive this Monday (8), in a commission to investigate whether there is interference from third parties in the CBF.

FIFA regulations and those of affiliate Conmebol do not allow state interventions in national football associations, such as the CBF. This was precisely one of the points mentioned by Gilmar Mendes in his injunction. The minister pointed out that Brazil needed to register for the pre-Olympic football tournament by Friday (5), which would be complicated with a president out of office.