Opposition tries to prevent Ednaldo from returning to command of CBF – 12/12/2023 – Sport

The opposition to Ednaldo Rodrigues, removed president of the CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation), asked the STJ (Superior Court of Justice) not to reverse the decision of the Rio de Janeiro Court of Justice that removed the leader from office.

The request, signed by the entity’s former vice-president Gustavo Feijó, was presented to the STJ on Monday night (11), in opposition to a request filed with the court for Ednaldo to return to his position.

The request in favor of Ednaldo is in the name of the CBF, but the opposition claims that the lawyers were appointed by the removed president, who presented the request “improperly in the name of the entity” in a “petition that exudes bad faith and distorts the reality of the facts “.

Ednaldo was removed because the court annulled the TAC (conduct adjustment agreement) signed between the CBF and the Public Ministry of Rio de Janeiro that guaranteed his election.

The judges in Rio understood that the Public Ministry did not have the legitimacy to file the action.

In the statement to the STJ against Ednaldo, Feijó says that his opponent “is no longer president of the CBF, considering that, also, today (…) the merits ruling was published that determined his immediate removal, in reason for the obvious illegality of his election [para a presidência da CBF, que foi realizada na perspectiva de um TAC nulo, celebrado no contexto de uma ação civil pública movida por parte ilegítima]”.

The request denies that there is a risk that the CBF will have its affiliation with FIFA (International Football Federation) and Conmebol (South American Football Confederation) suspended due to the decision that removed Ednaldo.

“If there was suspension of membership, it should have occurred when Mr. Ednaldo Rodrigues Gomes signed an improper and illegitimate conduct adjustment term, which did not occur,” the document says.

“Now, the thesis is precisely different: the order, independence and autonomy of the CBF have finally been restored.”

The decision of the Rio Court that removed the leader from office also required the president of the STJD (Superior Court of Sports Justice), José Perdiz, to take over the entity in the role of intervenor and call elections within 30 working days.

When appealing to the STJ, Ednaldo’s lawyers said that the removal of the CBF president puts at risk “the organization of football in the country and its entire economic chain”, which could lead to the suspension of the entity and the “impossibility of Brazilian teams and clubs compete in international competitions”.

The dismissed president’s lawyers also said that, if the suspension is not accepted, Rodrigues can remain in office to call new elections within 30 days.

In the appeal, the lawyers argue that Ednaldo’s removal could lead to the suspension of the CBF as an associate of international federations and prevent Brazilian clubs from participating in competitions.

In the wake of the removal of the CBF president, FIFA and Conmebol sent letters warning about the risks in the case of external interference, in the case of common justice, in the entity.

In letters addressed to the general secretary of the CBF, Alcino Reis Rocha, FIFA and Conmebol reaffirmed that the statute of the world federation “obliges member associations to manage their affairs independently, without influence from third parties, including any state entities” .

Article 16 of FIFA’s statute says that any breach of such an obligation can lead to sanctions, even if the influence was not caused by the member association in question. Among the possible punishments, it is possible to suspend the participation of the Brazilian team and clubs in tournaments organized by FIFA and Conmebol.