Ronaldo has withdrawn from the CBF presidential race due to lack of support from the majority of regional federations, which favor incumbent Ednaldo Rodrigues. He expressed disappointment over the federations’ closed-door approach and acknowledged the electoral dynamics that favored Rodrigues’ re-election. The upcoming election is expected to see Rodrigues as the lone candidate.
Ronaldo, the renowned Brazilian football icon, has officially withdrawn from the race for the presidency of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF). He announced his decision on Wednesday, stating he could not secure sufficient backing from regional federations to move forward with his candidacy. The former World Cup champion expressed his desire to restore Brazil’s football prestige which he felt had diminished in recent years due to controversies surrounding CBF leadership.
The legendary forward revealed that his outreach to the 27 regional federations was met with disappointment, as 23 of them did not engage. Ronaldo recognized that without the support of the majority, he could not compete against the current president, Ednaldo Rodrigues, who has secured widespread backing from the electorate. “If the majority of decision-makers believe that Brazilian football is in good hands, it doesn’t matter what I think,” he stated in a social media announcement.
Ronaldo lamented that he was not granted the opportunity to discuss his proposed ideas due to the federations’ expressed satisfaction with Rodrigues’ leadership. He emphasized that the federations’ decision to endorse the incumbent president was within their rights. The electoral structure, which favors regional federations with an influential voting power, ultimately hindered his ability to challenge for presidency, making it evident that most local leaders were aligned with Rodrigues’ re-election efforts. In the upcoming election, Rodrigues is poised to be the sole candidate.
In summary, Ronaldo’s withdrawal from the CBF presidential race is a result of insufficient support from regional federations, which firmly backed incumbent president Ednaldo Rodrigues. Despite his intentions to restore Brazil’s football prestige, the lack of engagement from federations and the electoral structure ultimately led to his decision. Next year’s election seems likely to proceed without significant competition as Rodrigues appears positioned to remain in office unchallenged.
Original Source: www.espn.com
