The former president of International, Fernando Carvalho, resumed the discussion about the club’s claim to the 2005 Brazilian title. The matter came up again in 2025, after Edilson Pereira de Carvalho stated in a Globoplay documentary that, without the interference of the “Apito Mafia”, Internacional would have been the champion of that year.
Speaking to Rádio Bandeirantes, the director stated that the club will claim the Brazilian title “without any harm to Corinthians”. The speech generated a wave of criticism on social media. The teams face each other this Sunday afternoon (5), for the 10th round of the Brasileirão.
Counselor asked for recognition
In November last year, Leonardo Aquino, advisor to the club from Rio Grande do Sul, contacted the CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation) requesting recognition of the title. The Colorado counselor substantiates his request by citing previous cases of late recognition of titles in Brazilian football.
“The CBF recognized, more than 50 years later, the Taça Brasil titles as the Brazilian Championship. There are several precedents in which two champions were considered, or a team was recognized as champion many years later”, argued Aquino.
In a recent interview, Edilson Pereira de Carvalho presented contradictory positions on the topic. While the documentary indicates that Internacional would be the legitimate champion, in other statements he defended the fairness of the championship’s outcome, arguing that it was “worth it for all” the teams involved.
Champion with asterisk
Carvalho even said that Alvinegro were champions “with an asterisk”, classifying the attitude of trying to recognize the title as “plausible”.
“When the games were cancelled, we went to court to try to reverse it, but we were unsuccessful. In these games, Corinthians won 4 points and if these games are not returned, Inter would be champions with a difference of two points. With this sum of factors, it shows that Corinthians won the championship with an asterisk”, he said at the time.
At the helm of Inter between 2002 and 2007, Carvalho highlighted that he took over the club amid political divisions and financial difficulties.
