Samir Xaud Takes Charge as Brazil CBF President After Court Removes Predecessor

Samir Xaud, a 41-year-old infectious disease physician and president of the Roraima Football Federation, has been elected president of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) for the 2025-2029 term following the removal of his predecessor, Ednaldo Rodrigues, by a Rio court over allegations of forgery. Running unopposed, Xaud secured a large majority of votes from state federations and clubs, despite some clubs abstaining in protest of the CBF's weighted voting system, which favors federations over clubs. His election marked the first use of an electronic voting machine at the CBF headquarters in Rio de Janeiro, and he pledged a modern, participatory, and renewal-focused administration. Xaud's coalition garnered significant backing from 25 of 27 state federations and several top-tier Série A clubs, sidelining rival candidates and addressing calls for transparency and inclusion within Brazilian football governance. The leadership change coincides with the upcoming presentation of Italy's Carlo Ancelotti as the new coach of the Brazilian national team, signaling potential shifts in the national football landscape. Xaud inherits the challenge of preparing Brazil's national squad for the World Cup while navigating tensions between clubs and federations over governance reforms.