07-05-2025
Brazil's supreme court asked to suspend CBF president Ednaldo Rodrigues over ‘inauthentic signature'
Brazil's supreme court has been asked to examine the legitimacy of a key signature which helped strengthen the position of Brazil Football Federation (CBF) president Ednaldo Rodrigues.
A petition from congresswoman Daniela Carneiro was sent to the court's most senior judge, Gilmar Mendes, calling for the case to be looked at and Rodrigues to be suspended from his role amid a suggestion that this signature is 'inauthentic'.
The agreement signed by CBF vice-president Antonio Carlos Nunes de Lima in January 2025 strengthened Rodrigues' hold on the federation's presidency.
Rodrigues, 71, has been CBF president since 2022 and was re-elected without opposition in March.
A letter sent to the Supreme Federal Court by congresswoman Daniela Carneiro claims a medical report from 2023 stated vice-president Nunes de Lima was lacking in 'physical and cognitive' capacity. She alleges he therefore either signed the key document 'without his full capacity for understanding', or his signature was forged without his consent.
The CBF insisted in a statement that 'acts related to the aforementioned agreement were carried out within the law' and that 'the process was legitimate'. The Athletic has attempted to contact Nunes de Lima and the CBF over his mental well-being.
Carneiro's letter argues the situation is 'damaging to the CBF's image in Brazilian society and the confidence of the population will certainly be tarnished' if Rodrigues were to stay in place as CBF president.
The fallout comes with the CBF searching to appoint a new head coach for the Brazilian national side, following the dismissal of Dorival Junior in March.
Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti is the preferred candidate of the CBF and has been in talks over a move since March, with the 65-year-old described by the federation as 'the president's (Rodrigues') dream'.
The Athletic reported on April 27 that Ancelotti was set to leave Madrid and take the Brazil head coach role on an initial one-year deal until the end of the 2026 World Cup.
He had been expected to sign his contract with Brazil when he met with CBF representatives in London on April 28, but the move subsequently stalled. It was necessary for Ancelotti to reach a definitive agreement with Madrid before he could sign with Brazil. That is expected soon so he can be in place for June's World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay.
In March, former Brazil striker Ronaldo withdrew his candidacy to stand against the incumbent in the 2026 CBF presidential elections.
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