A court in Rio de Janeiro has ordered the dismissal of Ednaldo Rodrigues, president of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), citing irregularities in his employment agreement.
Rodrigues had previously faced suspension in 2023 following a court ruling that his 2022 election was flawed. Although he was later reinstated by order of a Supreme Court judge—after FIFA warned of possible sanctions for interference in football governance—the controversy surrounding his position continued.
In the latest ruling, the court declared the employment agreement between Rodrigues and the CBF to be “null and void.” The decision raised questions over the legitimacy of the contract, particularly as one of its signatories was deemed mentally unfit to sign, suggesting potential forgery.
Despite mounting legal challenges, Rodrigues had been reelected in March to lead the federation through 2030. During his tenure, he spearheaded efforts to appoint Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti as Brazil’s national team coach—talks that initially collapsed. Ancelotti was formally appointed to the role this week, replacing Zinedine Zidane.
FIFA and CONMEBOL have previously pushed back against any attempt to remove Rodrigues, warning that allowing outside interference could lead to Brazil being excluded from international competitions.
Ahead of the court’s decision, Rodrigues expressed confidence in the validity of his contract during remarks at a FIFA meeting in Asunción.