Ednaldo Rodrigues withdraws his appeal as Samir Xaud prepares to replace him

The former president of the CBF Ednaldo Rodrigues withdrew on Monday the appeal with which he intended to challenge his dismissal and paved the way for the election of his successor, Samir Xaud. Rodrigues withdrew his complaint in a letter sent to Brazil's Supreme Court, in which he said he was "moved by the deep desire to restore peace in Brazilian football" and "the serenity of his own family life".

The leader was removed last week by court order on suspicion of fraud in a signature on a document that served as the basis for organizing the elections that Rodrigues won in 2022. In the document, Rodrigues said he was the victim of "unjust, malicious and criminal insinuations, orchestrated and coordinated by various groups" and "oligarchies" in Brazilian football.

Following Rodrigues' dismissal, a court-appointed intervener called elections to elect a new CBF leadership for May 25th. The sole candidate for these elections is Samir Xaud, a leader of the Federation of Roraima, an Amazonian state on the border with Venezuela, who has received the support of 25 regional federations and 10 professional clubs.

In his first declarations, Xaud has promised to renew Brazilian football, to make a decentralized management and also, to maintain the hiring of the new Brazilian coach, Carlo Ancelotti, signed by his predecessor and who will assume his new position on May 26th. Xaud has been at the helm of the Roraima Federation for 2 years in the capacity of "manager", although in numerous publications on the organization's official social networks he is referred to as "president".

He is a doctor by profession and son of the current president of the Federation, Zeca Xaud, who has led the body for more than 40 years in various stages, since he first took it over in 1976. Earlier this year, Samir Xaud won the elections to preside the Roraima Federation from 2027.