FIFA has issued a warning to Brazil, threatening to suspend its national teams and clubs from international competitions if the country’s football federation (CBF) proceeds with the election of a new president in January following the removal of Ednaldo Rodrigues. A Rio de Janeiro court ousted Rodrigues and his appointees on December 7 due to irregularities in his election last year, a decision upheld by Brazil’s highest courts.
In a letter obtained by ESPN and The Associated Press addressed to a Brazilian football executive, FIFA emphasized its opposition to third-party interference and urged the CBF to refrain from holding a swift election. FIFA’s letter stated that if its directive is not followed and an election proceeds, it may result in the suspension of Brazil from major competitions, including the Women’s World Cup in 2027.
The court-appointed José Perdiz to organize new elections for the CBF presidency within 30 working days, a move FIFA deems as undue intervention. FIFA and CONMEBOL have announced plans to form a commission to discuss the matter in Brazil on January 8.
The letter, signed by FIFA’s Kenny Jean-Marie and CONMEBOL’s Monserrat Jiménez Garcia, warned that any decision affecting the CBF, including elections, should not be taken until their commission reviews the situation. Failure to comply may lead FIFA to submit the matter to its decision-making body, potentially resulting in a suspension that would strip the CBF of membership rights, preventing representative and club teams from participating in international competitions.
The document underscored that irregular interference in member associations could lead to sanctions, even if the third-party influence is not the fault of the concerned association. José Perdiz responded positively to FIFA’s letter, expressing his commitment to transparent and timely elections within the established deadline.
Ednaldo Rodrigues, whose term extends to 2026, took over as interim president in 2021 after the suspension of his predecessor, Rogério Caboclo. Rodrigues is currently negotiating with other football executives for potential re-election bids or support for another candidate. While Rodrigues faces legal challenges, he is not implicated in corruption cases that plagued previous CBF presidents.
