Julio Casares announced this Wednesday (21) his resignation as president of São Paulo. He had already been removed from office by the Deliberative Council and anticipated the vote by the club’s members, which would define his definitive removal or return to the presidential chair.
The announcement comes on the day of an operation by the São Paulo Civil Police against an alleged scheme of illegal sale of boxes at the Morumbi stadium. Search and seizure warrants were executed against three people under investigation, one of them Mara Casares, who is Julio’s ex-wife and served as women’s, cultural and events director.
Casares published his decision to resign in a long “letter to the São Paulo community”, published on social media (read below). In the text, he states that he presided over São Paulo “with absolute seriousness, firmness, responsibility and commitment to the defense of the institution”. However, faced with “fragile versions and rumors taken as truth”, he made the choice to leave amid the impeachment process.
“In view of the continuity of this environment, the need to preserve my health and, above all, to protect my family from attacks and very serious threats, as well as to prevent this political dispute from continuing to harm the football team and the club’s sporting environment, I present my resignation from the position of president, with effect from this date”, he published.
In this way, Harry Massis Junior, 80, assumes the presidency definitively. He will remain in office until December 2026, when Casares’ term would end.
Check out the “letter to the São Paulo community” published by Casares
Throughout my career as President of São Paulo Futebol Clube, I acted with absolute seriousness, firmness, responsibility and commitment to the defense of the institution, always guided by respect for its history, its greatness and its fans.
In recent months, the club has experienced an environment of intense instability, marked by repeated attacks, distorted narratives and external pressures that have gone beyond legitimate institutional debate.
What began as fragile versions and rumors was repeatedly reproduced, amplified and, gradually, treated as truth, even without the presentation of consistent foundations or robust evidence.
Thus, a context of serious contamination of the debate was formed, in which conclusions began to take the place of facts and assumptions were presented as certainties, in a process that, little by little, transformed constructed versions into apparent truths.
I do not, at this time, assert authorship, methods or specific responsibilities, especially because such issues must be duly investigated by the competent bodies. However, it is impossible to ignore that there were behind-the-scenes articulations, deliberate distortions and a cunning political plot, marked by interests, institutional betrayals and expedients incompatible with the history and values of São Paulo Futebol Clube — facts that time and history will record.
This scenario profoundly affected the club’s governance and, in an absolutely unacceptable way, went beyond the limits of the institutional sphere, reaching my family and my personal life.
I did not resign previously because I understood that it was my duty to exercise, to the end, the right to full defense and contradictory proceedings.
I faced this process directly, in person and with dignity, even in an environment already contaminated by previously constructed narratives.
In practice, the demonstration held in the gallery was the only effective space that was granted to me to present my defense, in a summary procedure that, in my opinion, restricted the necessary production of evidence and the full clarification of the facts.
The decision taken by this Council closes a process of a political nature.
I respect this decision, even if I disagree with it, and I reaffirm, with absolute conviction, that I have never committed any irregularity.
My resignation does not represent a confession, acknowledgment of guilt or validation of the accusations leveled at me.
Given the continuity of this environment, the need to preserve my health and, above all, to protect my family from attacks and very serious threats, as well as to prevent this political dispute from continuing to harm the football team and the club’s sporting environment, I present my resignation from the position of President, with effect from this date, even bringing forward the exercise of the statutory right to wait for the General Assembly.
I make a point of noting that I leave a sportingly structured club, with a competitive team, which once again competed in decisions, reached the finals and won highly relevant titles. I would especially like to highlight the victory of the 2023 Copa do Brasil, an unprecedented and historic title, which symbolizes the serious, responsible and committed work carried out throughout the administration.
This performance is the result of the joint effort of the club’s athletes, coaching staff and professionals, to whom I express my respect and trust.
I am absolutely convinced that they will continue to honor this shirt and fight for titles, with the support of the fans and the institution.
My removal also aims to allow any investigations to occur in a broad, technical and impartial manner, without any allegations of interference, so that the truth can be fully sought and achieved.
Finally, I reiterate my certainty that São Paulo Futebol Clube is greater than any position, circumstance or constructed narrative.
To São Paulo Futebol Clube, the love of my childhood and my life, I will never give up. I do renounce the environment of conspiracies, distortions, lies and power struggles that went beyond democratic limits and tried to tarnish the club’s trajectories, biographies and history itself.
I say goodbye with respect, gratitude and permanent love for this institution, which I will always honor.
Julio Casares
