CBF issues letter and asks clubs to decide on suspension of tournaments

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) issued this Saturday (11) a letter to teams participating in Series A, B, C and D and the Women's competition, all competing in the Brazilian Championship. The document raises the question of whether they will accept the suspension of their respective tournaments or not, due to the calamity that is plaguing Rio Grande do Sul. The protocol, signed by President Ednaldo Rodrigues, calls for an immediate response.

Government Request

Last week, the Minister of Sports, André Luiz Carvalho Ribeiro, better known as André Fufuca, called for the suspension of tournaments organized by the highest football entity due to the serious problems that the population and clubs of Rio Grande do Sul face.

_{Ednaldo Rodrigues, president of the CBF (Photo: reproduction/RafaelRibeiro/CBF)}

Reason for the announcement

Yesterday, Ednaldo Rodrigues took a stance on the Government's request and declared that the CBF will respect the clubs' wishes: “Every decision regarding a competition — suspend, extend or postpone — the CBF will discuss jointly with the clubs. The power of the CBF is not a supreme and absolute power. It is a limited power.” The groups that form the Liga Forte Futebol (Internacional, Cruzeiro, Fluminense, Vasco, Athletico-PR, Botafogo, Coritiba, Goiás, Fortaleza, América-MG Cuiabá, Sport, Ceará, Avaí, Chapecoense, Juventude, Atlético-GO, Criciúma, CRB, Vila Nova, Londrina, Tombense, Figueirense, CSA and Operário-PR) must speak in favor of the interruption.

The CBF president stated that decisions like this involve the Club Technical Council, which includes delegates from all teams in each competition organized by the entity. Therefore, the director added that he does not determine issues of this magnitude alone. He also emphasized that the judgment of the Brazilian football calendar involves the participation of the teams in each tournament and, even though he is the top manager, he is not the only one who decides on the chance of a stoppage. He continued, stating that he respects all segments of the Government, but the construction of Brazilian football is based on the Technical Council, and this involves all ongoing competitions. Finishing his explanations, he said that, if the case requires, the Technical Council meets and deliberates: “Look, can we stop all the competition?”, andconcluded Ednaldo Rodrigues.

To date, despite actions of solidarity with Rio Grande do Sul, the CBF has already postponed within the Brasileirão the games of the clubs Grêmio, Internacional, Juventude and participants in Series B, C and D. At least until May 27th.

Featured Photo: CBF Headquarters, in Rio de Janeiro (Photo: reproduction/Lucas Figueiredo/CBF)