Brazil: Court reinstates association president Rodrigues

Brazil's Supreme Federal Court has ordered the reinstatement of the recently deposed president of the Brazilian Football Association, Ednaldo Rodrigues. FIFA wants to send a commission of inquiry.

Dhe convoluted legal battle over the leadership of the Brazilian Football Federation (CBF) has taken a new turn. On Thursday, a Federal Supreme Court judge ordered the reinstatement of President Ednaldo Rodrigues. Judge Gilmes Mendes issued an interim injunction suspending the decision of a civil tribunal in Rio de Janeiro that deposed the 69-year-old in December because of alleged irregularities in his 2022 election.

Mendes justified the legal protection granted to Rodrigues with a threatened suspension of Brazilian teams by the world association FIFA and the continental umbrella organization Conmebol, which would first affect the U-23 Selecao for the Olympic qualifying tournament in Venezuela starting on January 20th. For the gold medalist from the last two Summer Games, it would be an early exit from Paris 2024.

FIFA and Conmebol had already announced that they would send an investigative commission to Brazil next week. In its statutes, the world association prohibits the state associations from intervening on the part of state bodies.