At an Extraordinary General Assembly held this Friday (8), at the headquarters of the CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation), in Rio de Janeiro, an amendment to the statute was approved to allow the entity’s president a third term.
The previous document provided for only one re-election, for two terms, and now there will be up to two reappointments. The act already benefits the current president, Ednaldo Rodrigues. He could remain in office until 2034.
This possibility was anticipated by Itatiaia on Monday (4).
The change was also extended to state federations and unanimously approved by the 27 presidents present in the Assembly. The meeting was made up only of the federations because it is not an event with an electoral purpose, when the clubs participate because they also vote.
former head of the Bahia Federation, was elected president of the CBF on March 23, 2022, for a four-year term, until March 2026. However, he had already held the position since September 2021, when the previous cycle ended , from .
The possibility of a second re-election gives Ednaldo legal certainty that he will be able to participate in the election in 2026, for another four-year term, until 2030.
There was a fear among the president’s allies that his candidacy could be prosecuted if there was an understanding that his election in 2022 should already be considered a re-election, as he had presided over the entity since September 2021.
Another possibility of inclusion in the reform did not go ahead: the creation of a barrier clause preventing presidents of clubs and federations who do not become compatible, that is, resign from their positions one year before the election, from running for president of the CBF. This would make it difficult to form opposition slates.
Ednaldo’s departure
It is pending before the STF (Supreme Federal Court) whether the removal of Ednaldo Rodrigues from the presidency of the CBF, defined on December 7, 2023 by the Court of Justice of Rio de Janeiro, is valid. If confirmed, a new election must be scheduled. Otherwise, Ednaldo will normally serve his term until March 2026.
On January 4, 2024, the , until the case was analyzed by the plenary. The process has already been discussed a few times, the last time on October 9, but each time the decision has been postponed.
