A Rio de Janeiro court has ordered the removal of Ednaldo Rodrigues and the entire board of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), citing alleged forgery and questions surrounding the mental capacity of a former CBF president. The ruling, issued on Thursday, marks the second time Rodrigues has been ousted from his position in less than a year.
The decision stems from a controversial agreement signed earlier this year between Rodrigues and former CBF president Antonio Carlos Nunes de Lima, which effectively extended Rodrigues’ leadership until 2030. However, Judge Gabriel de Oliveira Zefiro declared the agreement null and void, citing the “mental incapacity and possible forgery” of Nunes’ signature.
According to the ruling, Nunes, who was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2018, had reportedly been unfit to participate in legal or administrative matters due to deteriorating health. His defense claimed he was unable to attend a court hearing due to these issues, further casting doubt on the validity of the agreement.
“I declare null and void the agreement signed between the parties, previously approved by the Superior Court, due to the mental incapacity and possible forgery of the signature of Antonio Carlos Nunes de Lima,” Judge Zefiro said. “As a result, the logical consequence is the recognition of the illegitimacy of the current CBF administration.”
In the wake of Rodrigues’ removal, CBF vice-president Fernando Sarney was appointed interim president and tasked with organizing new elections “as soon as possible” to restore lawful governance.
The CBF has yet to issue a formal statement on the matter, telling Reuters that it would not comment immediately.
Rodrigues had previously been removed from office in December 2023 by a Rio de Janeiro court due to irregularities in the CBF’s electoral process. However, he was reinstated the following month by Supreme Court Justice Gilmar Mendes, who argued that removing Rodrigues could jeopardize Brazil’s participation in international competitions and trigger sanctions from FIFA.
Despite fears of government interference, FIFA chose not to impose sanctions on Brazil after Rodrigues’ reinstatement, stating it did not see grounds for intervention.
The latest development comes just days after the high-profile announcement of Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti as the future manager of the Brazil national team for the 2026 World Cup campaign. With Rodrigues now removed again, questions loom over the stability of Brazil’s football leadership heading into a crucial preparation period for the world’s most successful national team.
