Crisis of the Brazilian national team: will it be possible to miss the next FIFA World Cup?

Neither FIFA nor Conmebol tolerate state interference in the management of affiliated federations and will not hesitate to disaffiliate Brazil from all its competitions if Ednaldo Rodrigues is not reinstated as president of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), sources from the South American organization to the AFP. “The rules are clear and binding. In no case is the intervention of external forces permitted in matters that concern its members”, said the source, who preferred to remain anonymous after clarifying that these matters “are ventilated only through resolutions and not simply the opinions of its administrators”.

The Rio de Janeiro court removed Ednaldo Rodrigues on December 7 and appointed José Perdiz as interim president of the CBF to organize new elections in Brazilian football’s governing body.

FIFA and Conmebol have announced the sending of a mission to Rio de Janeiro to understand the crisis starting from January 8, the date of resumption of the administrative activities of the South American leadership after the break at the end of the year.

The aim of the mission will be to examine the situation and find a solution based on the regulations of both the CBF, Conmebol and FIFA.

“FIFA and Conmebol wish to strongly insist that, before this mission takes place, no decisions affecting the CBF, including elections or electoral appointments, are taken. If this is not respected, FIFA will have no other choice” than to postpone the matter. to its competent decision-making body for consideration and decision, which may also include a suspension,” reads a letter sent to the CBF.

“In this regard, and for reasons of order, we would also like to point out that if the CBF were to be permanently suspended by the competent body of FIFA, it would lose all its membership rights with immediate effect until the suspension is lifted by FIFA. This it would also mean that (Brazilian) teams and clubs would no longer be able to participate in any international competitions while it is suspended,” he warned.

The letter was sent jointly on December 24 by Kenny Jean-Marie, of FIFA, and Monserrat Jiménez Granda, of Conmebol, as reported by Brazilian media UOL.

FIFA and Conmebol do not recognize Perdiz as CBF’s auditor, appointed by the Brazilian courts.

In a similar case, FIFA recently suspended the Mali Football Federation as an associate after considering “undue interference” by that country’s government, after the Sports Minister dissolved the entity’s executive committee and appointed a ” provisional committee” to manage the federation. association and arrange for the election of a new board of directors, despite the warnings.

Brazil is currently competing in the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup in North America; He has the 2024 Copa América on his agenda between June and July in the United States and his clubs are preparing to play the Libertadores and Sudamerica cups starting next February.

hro/ma