Brazilian Justice Minister Gilmar Mendes has issued an order for Ednaldo Rodrigues to be reinstated as the president of the country’s football confederation, overturning the previous ruling of the Rio de Janeiro Court of Justice. This decision comes after Rodrigues was removed from his post last month by the Rio de Janeiro court, despite being elected to lead the CBF until 2026. The court had appointed the president of the Superior Court of Sports Justice (STJD), Jose Perdiz, as the interim head.
Mendes pointed out the risk of the Brazil national team being barred by FIFA, world soccer’s governing body, from participating in the qualifying tournament for this year’s Paris Olympics if Rodrigues was not re-instated. FIFA does not tolerate government interference in soccer affairs and bans nations from competing in any of its events if they violate these rules.
“In this situation, there is a risk of imminent damage, since the registration of players from the Brazilian national team in the qualifying tournament for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, which must be completed by tomorrow (5.1.2024), would be made unfeasible,” Mendes said.
In addition, Mendes noted that FIFA had sent successive letters to Brazil, stating that it does not recognize the interim president appointed by the court as the legitimate representative of CBF.
This decision is crucial in ensuring that Brazil can still participate in important international football events without facing any repercussions from FIFA.
Rodrigues’ reinstatement as the president of the CBF is a necessary step in maintaining Brazil’s standing in the world of soccer and upholding the country’s credibility in international competitions. Mendes’ order serves to rectify the previous ruling and avoid any potential consequences for the Brazil national team.
The significance of Mendes’ decision cannot be understated, as it not only upholds the integrity of the CBF but also safeguards Brazil’s participation in crucial international tournaments.
This ruling represents a significant development in the ongoing legal battle surrounding the leadership of the CBF, ultimately ensuring that Brazil can continue its participation in global soccer events without facing any sanctions from FIFA. Mendes’ intervention has effectively resolved the issue and averted any potential disruptions to Brazil’s international football involvement.
(Writing Angelica Medina, Editing by Pedro Fonseca and Pritha Sarkar)
