RIO DE JANEIRO – A Rio de Janeiro court ordered Ednaldo Rodrigues’s removal as president of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) on Thursday. The judge declared Rodrigues’s employment contract invalid due to legal irregularities. This action marks a new development in the Ednaldo Rodrigues CBF dismissal situation.
The court ruled the 2025 contract for Rodrigues’s presidency was “null” and void. A reason cited was that one signatory of the contract was allegedly “mentally unfit to sign.” This claim suggests “possible forgery.” This follows earlier legal problems for Rodrigues. He faced a temporary suspension in 2023 after irregularities were found in his 2022 election.
FIFA’s Shadow and Rodrigues’s Stance
Rodrigues’s previous removal drew international attention. FIFA and the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) warned Brazil against external interference in CBF governance. At that time, FIFA threatened to suspend the CBF from international competitions. This threat led a Brazilian Supreme Court judge to reinstate Rodrigues.
Hours before the latest court ruling, Rodrigues, in Asuncion, expressed confidence. When asked about his contract’s legitimacy, he stated, “Absolute certainty.” The court’s decision on the Ednaldo Rodrigues CBF dismissal then contradicted this.
Leadership Void Amidst Coaching Moves
This latest Ednaldo Rodrigues CBF dismissal creates uncertainty for Brazilian football at a sensitive time. Rodrigues, the first Black president in CBF history, was involved in negotiations. These included the initial bid to appoint Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti as national team coach, which had failed.
Carlo Ancelotti was officially confirmed as Brazil’s new coach this week. He replaced Zinedine Zidane. In March, Rodrigues was unanimously reelected to lead the CBF until 2030. Thursday’s court verdict now creates uncertainty about that future and leaves a leadership void.
By Kayode Ojo
