Ronaldo campaigns for presidency of Brazilian football!

Ronaldo campaigns for presidency of Brazilian football!

In Brazil, the Supreme Court has ruled that Ednaldo Rodrigues, the president of the CBF (Brazilian Football Federation), should be reinstated in office. This came after an annulment of a first instance ruling from Rio de Janeiro that had removed Rodrigues and his administration due to irregularities in the 2022 elections. The decision comes at a critical time, as FIFA and South American soccer confederation CONMEBOL are expected almost simultaneously to review possible third-party interference with the CBF that could ultimately lead to Brazil being banned from international competitions, AP reports.

Ronaldo as a possible challenger

Meanwhile, Brazilian soccer star Ronaldo has announced that he wants to run for the CBF presidency. Ronaldo, who is seeking the necessary support from national associations and clubs, expressed concern about the deficiencies within the association: "We must be vigilant to improve the situation in Brazilian football." This would be a historic election as no more than one candidate has run for president since 1989. The current incumbent Rodrigues said that the electoral process has not yet officially started, but due to the existing legal uncertainties, early elections could be possible from March 2025, the informed Small newspaper.

Ronaldo, who would also have to sell his shares in Spanish first division club Real Valladolid, has already started discussions in this regard. Time is of the essence for the CBF as the deadline to submit the squad list for the Olympic qualification games is fast approaching. Rodrigues, who has been in office on an interim basis since 2021, must now prepare for the challenges ahead as he tries to navigate his presidency through ongoing legal uncertainty.