Corinthians ethics panel opens case that could expel Rubão | OneFootball

Corinthians’ Ethics Committee accepted a filing made by a group of Timão members and opened an ethical-disciplinary proceeding that could result in the expulsion of Rubens Gomes, popularly known as Rubão, from the club’s membership rolls. The lifetime council member has already had two stints in Alvinegro’s football department, serving as director during part of 2007 and 2024.

In the document to which Central do Timão had access, the group of Corinthians members requests the council member’s removal from the club’s membership rolls based on article 28, item E, of the club’s internal regulations, which states that “a member who (...) tarnishes the club’s image is subject to expulsion.”

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In the filing made against Rubens Gomes, already in the possession of the Ethics Committee, the authors mention a conviction suffered by the lifetime council member for administrative misconduct in relation to a case linked to the City Hall of Ariranha, in the interior of São Paulo state. According to the ruling, which was later upheld by the state Court of Justice, fraud took place in the hiring process of a company in which Rubão is one of the partners, along with the payment of R$100,000 for services that were not, in fact, provided, according to the court decision.

The São Paulo Court of Justice upheld the conviction for administrative misconduct, as well as the obligation to fully reimburse the damage to the public treasury and pay a civil fine, reducing from 12 to just four years the ban on contracting within the Public Administration. The group argues that the decision has not yet become final and unappealable, that is, it is not definitive at this time.

The document filed by the group of members, which is already in the hands of the EC president, Leonardo Pantaleão, also highlights “Operation King of Pix,” launched in June 2026 by Gaeco (Special Action Group to Combat Organized Crime) to investigate alleged embezzlement of public funds in the Catanduva region, in the interior of São Paulo state.

Those responsible for drafting the request argue that Rubão was allegedly involved in a rigged bidding process together with the City Council through the company Unidade de Concurso e Treinamento Limitada (LTDA). It allegedly pocketed public funds without providing services corresponding to its role. In the investigation, the courts ordered the freezing of R$4.59 million in the accounts and assets of the lifetime council member and former club football director.

The members who signed the document also argue that the Deliberative Council should adopt the same rigor it used in expelling former presidents Andrés Sanchez and Augusto Melo. The former was removed from the club’s membership rolls for using Timão’s corporate card for personal benefits during his second term at the head of the institution (2018-2020). The latter, in turn, ended up being expelled over May 31, 2025, when, together with his political allies, he invaded the president’s office in an attempt to retake power, days after being removed from the presidency. Later, in August of last year, he was definitively removed from office.

Although the filing is already in the hands of the Ethics Committee, Rubens Gomes has the right to a full defense during the procedure to be conducted by the EC before any final decision is made regarding his possible removal from Corinthians’ membership rolls.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.