O former striker and five-time champion Ronaldo gave up his candidacy for the CBF presidency. The player announced the decision on his Instagram on Wednesday (12/03).
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According to the text written by the former player, almost no federation agreed to talk to him about a possible election for the presidency of the entity.
– In my first contact with the 27 affiliates, I found 23 closed doors. The federations refused to receive me in their homes, on the grounds of satisfaction with the current management and support for reelection. I couldn’t present my project, take my ideas and hear them as I would like. There was no opening for the dialogue, ”he said.
Also according to Ronaldo, the “Statute grants the federations the vote of greater weight and, therefore, it is clear that there is no way to compete”. With that, the Reelection of Ednaldo Rodrigues to office is practically certain.
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Ronaldo’s goal for his candidacy “to give voice and space to the clubs”, as well as “listening to federations for the improvements in competition and sports development in their states.” THE Former striker did not speak if he will seek office again in a next electoral cycle.
Check out Ronaldo’s statement in full:
“After publicly declaring my desire to run for the presidency of the CBF in the next election, I officially take my intention here. If the majority with the decision -making power understands that Brazilian football is in good hands, it matters little my opinion.
As I said, my first steps would be towards voice and space to clubs, as well as listening to federations for improvements in competition and sports development in their states. The necessary change would come from this strategic alignment, with the force of shared vision.
However, in my first contact with the 27 affiliates, I found 23 closed doors. The federations refused to receive me in their homes, on the grounds of satisfaction with the current management and support for reelection. I couldn’t present my project, take my ideas and hear them as I would like. There was no opening for the dialogue.
The status grants the federations the vote of greater weight and therefore it is clear that there is no way to compete. Most state leaders support the acting president, it is their right and I respect, regardless of my convictions.
I thank everyone who showed interest in my initiative and I keep believing that the way for the evolution of Brazilian football is, first of all, dialogue, transparency and union “
Who is Ednaldo Rodrigues, president of CBF?
Born in Vitória da Conquista, in Bahia, on January 27, 1954, Ednaldo Rodrigues began his career as a top hat of football in 1992. Ednaldo was President of the Conquest League of Terrestrialin Vitória da Conquista, and Director of the Interior Department of the Bahian Football Federation (FBF).
Soon after, it was elected the president of FBF in 2001, being in office until 2018being reelected for two occasions. At the end of his term, he became the Vice-President of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) between 2018 and 2021.
Em 2021, became the interim president of the entity after the removal of Rogério Caboclo by denunciations of Moral Harassment and Sexual Harassment.
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Em 2022, in the entity’s elections, the president was elected for the first time. Suspected irregularities in the election led the agent to be deposed in December 2023. An STF’s decision, however, brought him back to the presidency in early 2024, a position he has held so far.
Ednaldo was the First black and northeastern to be elected president of the maximum entity of Brazilian football.