Ricardo Teixeira, the powerful boss of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), resigned on Monday following a spate of corruption allegations and he also stepped down as head of the country’s organizing panel for the 2014 World Cup.
The CBF’s acting president, Jose Maria Marin, made the announcement to reporters at a press conference at the confederation’s headquarters in Rio de Janeiro.
Teixeira, who last week was granted medical leave, said in a letter read out by Marin: “Today, I am definitively relinquishing the presidency of the CBF.”
Photo: AFP
Teixeira, who had been CBF chief since 1989 and who revamped the body after it struggled financially, has faced accusations that he took millions of dollars in bribes in the 1990s from the Switzerland-based ISL sports marketing company that later went bankrupt.
He was also accused of diverting public funds from a friendly match played by Brazil in 2008.
Teixeira, 64, whose term was to expire in 2015, has always maintained his innocence.
During his tenure, Brazil won the 1994 and 2002 World Cups, and the confederation became one of the most valuable in the world.
In his letter, Teixeira said Marin, at 79 the CBF’s oldest vice president and the interim chief since Thursday, would succeed him.
Marin said there would be no change, promising: “Continuity in a management respected the world over.”
Marin added that he would join former Brazil stars Ronaldo and Bebeto on the board of directors of Brazil’s World Cup national organizing committee.
“Today, we can celebrate,” said Brazil’s former striker and 1994 World Cup winner Romario, now a lawmaker and a frequent critic of organizational progress for the World Cup.
“We are extirpating a cancer from Brazilian football,” he said in a reaction on his Facebook page, in which he also called for a “thorough cleanup at the CBF.”
“It’s a victory for the Brazilian people. It’s a clear victory for the government of [Brazilian President] Dilma Rousseff, who made clear since she took office that she would not work with him. We can now look forward to a more transparent World Cup,” said sports analyst Juca Kfouri, who has for years tracked Teixeira’s career.
Brazilian Sports Minister Aldo Rebelo, meanwhile, said the government “would continue to work in harmony on the common tasks needed to ensure the success” of the World Cup.
Teixeira’s stewardship has been filled with controversy and there have been repeated calls for his resignation, amid allegations of irregularities in Brazil and abroad.
“I did my very best during all these years, even to the point of sacrificing my health,” Teixeira said in his letter.
The accusations against him buried his dream of succeeding Sepp Blatter as head of FIFA, world soccer’s governing body, after the 2014 World Cup.
Teixeira secured the CBF leadership thanks to his former father-in-law Joao Havelange, who was FIFA boss from 1974 to 1998.
In 2010, the BBC alleged that Teixeira had taken bribes in the 1990s regarding the awarding of contracts for the sale of television rights to the World Cup.
Last year, authorities launched a probe into possible money laundering by Teixeira through the CBF and the daily Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper recently reported that prosecutors allegedly found evidence linking him and a company that organized a friendly between Brazil and Portugal in 2008 in Brasilia. The company is being probed for irregularities in organizing the match.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely