A court in Rio de Janeiro has ordered the dismissal of Ednaldo Rodrigues, president of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), over allegations of forgery in his employment contract. The decision adds more turmoil to Brazilian football, just days after the appointment of Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti as head of the national team brought a rare moment of celebration.
The court ruled that one of the signatories of Rodrigues’s 2025 contract was mentally unfit to sign the agreement, raising serious concerns of “possible forgery.” The judge declared the contract “null and void” and ordered the CBF to hold new leadership elections.
Rodrigues, 71, had previously told journalists at a FIFA meeting in Paraguay that he had “absolute certainty” the contract was legally sound. He is the first Black president in CBF history.
This is not Rodrigues’s first legal issue. In 2023, he was temporarily removed from office after a court found irregularities in his 2022 election. He was later reinstated after a Supreme Court ruling, which came amid warnings from FIFA that Brazil could face sanctions for allowing judicial interference in football matters.
At the time, FIFA and South America’s football governing body, CONMEBOL, stood behind Rodrigues and rejected his removal. They warned that Brazil risked being barred from international competitions if it failed to protect the independence of the CBF.
Despite controversy, Rodrigues played a central role in securing Ancelotti’s appointment. The Italian coach, who has won the UEFA Champions League four times, was announced as the new Selecao boss on Monday. Rodrigues had earlier called Ancelotti the “greatest coach in history.”
Rodrigues was also reelected as CBF president in March 2024. He faced no opposition after Brazilian football legend Ronaldo withdrew his candidacy. However, soon after, an investigative report by Brazilian magazine Piaui accused Rodrigues of securing support from regional federation leaders by offering them large pay increases.
This latest scandal arrives as Brazil struggles both on and off the field. The national team is still recovering from a 4-1 defeat to Argentina in March, a historic loss that led to the dismissal of coach Dorival Junior.
Brazil, a five-time World Cup winner, is currently in fourth place in the South American qualifying standings for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
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