Just three days after being officially named Brazil’s new head coach, Carlo Ancelotti is already facing turbulence off the pitch. The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) president, Ednaldo Rodrigues, was removed from office by the Rio de Janeiro Court of Justice due to alleged administrative irregularities. In response, Rodrigues—now the former Brazil FA president—has issued a stark warning about the possibility of FIFA sanctions.
The court’s decision was primarily based on allegations that Ednaldo Rodrigues forged the signature of former CBF president Colonel Nunes in an agreement signed in early 2025. The irregularity was reported by Deputy Daniela do Waguinho and CBF vice president Fernando Sarney.
Sarney has since been appointed as the interim administrator of the CBF and is tasked with organizing new elections to appoint a permanent executive committee. However, the leadership crisis could create complications for Ancelotti and the national team heading into the June international break.
Rodrigues warns of potential FIFA intervention
Rodrigues’ removal took place during the CONMEBOL Congress in Asunción, Paraguay, where even FIFA President Gianni Infantino was in attendance. The announcement reportedly caught Rodrigues by surprise.
Speaking to reporters, Rodrigues argued that FIFA and CONMEBOL do not recognize federation leaders appointed by judicial means, “which could potentially subject the CBF and its national teams to severe sanctions, including exclusion from international sporting competitions.”
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Rodrigues went on to say that if FIFA does not recognize the legitimacy of the newly appointed officials, it may reject the national team’s squad list—Ancelotti’s first—scheduled to be submitted on May 26 ahead of the World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay. “The sporting, financial, and diplomatic consequences could be immeasurable,” he added.
This is not the first time Rodrigues has faced removal from office. In 2023, he was ousted by the same court but was later reinstated by Supreme Federal Court (STF) Justice Gilmar Mendes. FIFA has yet to release an official statement on the matter, but the political turmoil within Brazilian soccer could threaten to derail Ancelotti’s tenure before it even begins.
