Ronaldo has withdrawn from the CBF presidential race after lacking support from regional federations. He aimed to restore Brazilian football’s prestige but could not engage decision-makers. Most federations back current president Ednaldo Rodrigues, making his candidacy unfeasible as Rodrigues prepares for uncontested re-election.
On Wednesday, Brazilian football legend Ronaldo announced his withdrawal from the race for the presidency of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF). At 48 years old, the former Ballon d’Or winner and two-time World Cup champion failed to garner sufficient support from regional federations required to present his candidacy. His decision comes following an attempt to restore the prestige of Brazilian football amid ongoing controversies surrounding CBF leadership.
Ronaldo declared his intentions to compete for the presidency back in December, citing a desire to revive Brazil’s reputation in the footballing world. However, he realized that challenging current CBF president Ednaldo Rodrigues would be unfeasible due to the overwhelming support Rodrigues enjoys from the electorate. “On my first contact with the 27 regional federations, I found 23 closed doors,” remarked Ronaldo in his statement.
The football great expressed disappointment in his inability to converse with regional federations, who, he stated, refused to engage him because they were satisfied with the current administration under Rodrigues. Ronaldo expressed, “I was unable to present my project, put forward my ideas and listen to them as I would have liked. There was no openness to dialogue.”
It is noteworthy that the electoral college consists of the 27 regional federations, each allotted three votes, and top-flight clubs, which dilute the power dynamics. With the majority of federations backing Rodrigues, Ronaldo acknowledged, “the statute gives the federations the strongest vote…most of the local leaders support the incumbent president, that’s their right and I respect it.”
With this development, it appears Ednaldo Rodrigues is poised to remain the singular candidate for the upcoming election, further solidifying his grip on the presidency of the CBF.
In conclusion, Ronaldo’s withdrawal from the CBF presidential election highlights the challenges individuals face in seeking governance in Brazilian football amidst entrenched support for current leadership. His inability to connect with key federations underscores a prevailing sentiment of satisfaction with the incumbent president, Ednaldo Rodrigues, positioning him as the likely uncontested candidate for the forthcoming election.
Original Source: www.espn.com
