FIFA and the South American Football Confederation (Conmebol) will not tolerate any state interference in the management of the federations and will not hesitate to suspend Brazil if Ednaldo Rodrigues is not reinstated at the head of the Brazilian Federation (CBF) , a source at Conmebol told AFP on Monday. “The regulations are clear and clear. The intervention of external forces in the field of competence of the associated (federations) is in no way permitted,” declared this source who requested anonymity.
The president of the CBF Ednaldo Rodrigues was dismissed from his functions on December 7 by judicial decision. A court invalidated a previous agreement between the CBF and the Rio prosecutor’s office, dating from March 2022, which had allowed the election of Mr. Rodrigues at the head of the federation until 2026. The justice entrusted the management of the CBF to a temporary worker, José Perdiz, with the mandate to organize new elections.
“Lead to a suspension”
FIFA and Conmebol have decided to send a mission to Rio de Janeiro which will begin work on January 8 to try to find a solution to the crisis. According to the Brazilian media UOL, the CBF received a letter signed by a member of FIFA, Kenny Jean-Marie, and another from Conmebol, Monserrat Jiménez Granda, dated December 24, in which these two bodies “energetically insist” that before January 8 “no decision concerning the CBF and in particular the elections be taken”.
Otherwise, Fifa will have “no choice but to ask its competent body to take up the matter”, which could “lead to a suspension”. It is specified in the letter that such a suspension of the CBF would imply the exclusion of Brazilian teams, selections and clubs, from all international competitions. Brazil is currently playing in the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup and must play the 2024 Copa America next June-July.