FIFA warned Brazil last Sunday that it could expel its national teams and clubs from international tournaments if an intervention by its soccer body leads to the election of a new president in January. FIFA told Brazil’s soccer executive in a letter that the country’s soccer body, CBF, could face suspension if it does not heed its call to wait and instead holds quick elections to replace Ednaldo Rodrigues as president.
A Rio de Janeiro court removed Rodrigues and all of his CBF appointees from office on December 7 due to irregularities in his election last year. Brazil’s two highest courts upheld that ruling last week.
Football’s governing body FIFA historically rejects government and third-party interference in its member associations, which could ultimately leave five-time World Cup winner Brazil out of major competitions until resolved. the crisis.
The court ruling also appointed José Perdiz, president of Brazil’s highest sports court, as an intervener to organize new presidential elections within 30 business days. FIFA said in previous letters to the CBF that it considers the intervention inappropriate. Sunday’s letter was signed by FIFA’s Kenny Jean-Marie, head of the members association, and CONMEBOL deputy secretary general Monserrat Jiménez García.
The controller of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), José Perdiz, stated this Monday that he will obey Justice and will call “elections” within the established period, in response to a letter from FIFA in which the entity said it would not tolerate interference. and threatened to expel Brazil from all its tournaments.
“As ruled by the Brazilian Justice, in a decision confirmed in all instances, (…) I must call elections within the given period, with the required transparency and integrity,” Perdiz said in a statement sent to the EFE Agency.
In the letter sent by FIFA, leaked by Brazilian media, they emphasized that, in accordance with their statutes, FIFA member associations “must manage their affairs independently and without the undue influence of any type of third party.”
They stressed that “any violation” of this principle “can lead to sanctions, including the suspension” of the CBF from FIFA, which would mean that Brazilian teams and clubs “would no longer have the right to participate in international competitions.”
In this framework, they announced that they will send a joint mission to Brazil during the second week of January (8-14) to meet with the parties with the intention of “examining the situation” and “finding a solution”, respecting “the autonomy” of the CBF.
“FIFA and Conmebol want to strongly emphasize that, until this mission arrives, no decision that affects the CBF will be made, including any election or call for an election,” they indicated in the letter.
In response, Perdiz said that he received the new letter “with satisfaction and respect”, which he sees as “a positive sign” that they support the electoral process.
However, he stated that it is his duty to “conduct this transitional stage by rigorously observing the legal frameworks with independence and impartiality, in line with the statute of the entity itself and of FIFA, having as its sole objective to comply with the ruling of the Brazilian Justice.”
