Brazilian football has been rocked by fresh controversy just days after announcing Carlo Ancelotti as the next national team coach. On Thursday, a court in Rio de Janeiro ordered the dismissal of Ednaldo Rodrigues, the president of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), citing alleged forgery in his employment contract.
According to the court, one of the signatories of Rodrigues’ 2025 contract was found to be mentally unfit, making the signature invalid and the contract “null and void.” The court has also mandated new elections for the CBF leadership.
This marks another blow for Rodrigues, the first Black president in the CBF’s history, who had already faced suspension in 2023 due to irregularities in his previous election. Though he was reinstated following pressure from FIFA—which threatened Brazil with international sanctions for government interference—his leadership has remained under scrutiny.
Rodrigues’ dismissal comes despite his recent unanimous re-election in March for a term until 2030, after former Brazilian star Ronaldo dropped out of the race. However, he has since faced allegations of buying support by awarding pay hikes to regional federation leaders, as reported by Brazilian magazine Piaui.
Meanwhile, the CBF had hoped to turn a new leaf by securing Carlo Ancelotti, who will officially take over as coach of the Selecao later this month. Ancelotti, hailed by Rodrigues as the “greatest coach in history,” brings with him hopes of restoring Brazil’s dominance after a humiliating 4-1 defeat to Argentina in March that led to the sacking of Dorival Junior.
Currently, Brazil sits in fourth place in the South American qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup to be hosted by the USA, Mexico, and Canada. The uncertainty surrounding the federation’s leadership threatens to derail progress at a critical time for the national team.
With fresh elections on the horizon and FIFA closely monitoring developments, Brazil’s football future hangs in a delicate balance—both on and off the pitch.
