In a crisis of results with a sixth place in the Amsud group of the 2006 World Cup qualifiers, Brazil is also shaken within its football authorities. So much so that the recent dismissal of Ednaldo Rodrigues, president of the Brazilian Federation (CBF), could lead to the suspension of Brazil by Fifa and the South American Football Confederation.
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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 rules are clear and clear. The intervention of external forces in the field of competence of the associated (federations) is under no circumstances permitted “, declared this source who requested anonymity.
“Pelé would have been very sad »
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 Rodrigues at the head of the federation until 2026.
“ This crisis did not appear overnight, these are important and complex problems “, declared Edinho, 53, son of “king” Pelé, in an interview with AFP a few days before the first anniversary of his father’s death. “ If (Pelé) had been there this year, he would have been very sad. He was always very concerned about the fate of Brazilian football.”
Justice entrusted the management of the CBF to a temporary worker, José Perdiz, with the mandate to organize new elections. 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 authorities “ energetically insist » so that before January 8 “ no decision concerning the CBF, and in particular the elections, is taken “.
Sidelining of Brazilian teams
Otherwise, Fifa will not have “ no other choice than to ask its competent body to take up the subject “, which could ” lead to 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.
A year after the disappearance of the legendary and brilliant Brazilian striker, triple world champion with Brazil (1958, 1962 and 1970), the Seleçao, orphan of Neymar, injured on October 18, at least until next summer, will not not doing very well.
After six days, it only occupies sixth place, the last directly qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, in the Amsud group where it remains with a defeat at the Maracana against Argentina (1-0) on November 22.
“ We are in decline (…) We still have great players, but before we had more top players than today », Estimated Edinho.