Palmeiras president grows close to CBF chief at Copa, says journalist | OneFootball

Leila Pereira and Samir Xaud are getting closer and closer

If anyone still had any doubts that the relationship between the CBF and Palmeiras is in a moment of absolute harmony, maybe it is time to look at the flight plan. After all, the president of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), Samir Xaud, seems to have found a new means of transportation to follow the 2026 World Cup: the private jet of Palmeiras president Leila Pereira.

According to information reported by Lauro Jardim, from ‘O Globo’, the partnership went beyond institutional meetings and took off. That is because Xaud has already used Leila’s aircraft at least twice during the World Cup held in North America.

HOW DID THE TRIPS HAPPEN?

The first ride took place on the trip from Brazil to Mexico. Samir Xaud boarded Leila Pereira’s Dassault Falcon 8X, an executive aircraft capable of carrying up to 16 passengers and making intercontinental nonstop flights.

As if one trip were not enough to prove the good relationship, the CBF president did it again later. This time, he used the same plane for the trip between Mexico City and New York, where he attended commitments related to the World Cup.

SO, WHAT IS THE AUTHOR’S OPINION?

— Naturally, club and CBF officials interact at events, meetings, and competitions. However, when that interaction starts to include travel on a private aircraft during the biggest competition in world football, the image conveyed inevitably draws attention — began Pedro Paulo Catonho, journalist and assistant editor at Coluna do Fla.

— Even more so at a time when the CBF should be reinforcing a position of equal distance from all clubs in Brazilian football. After all, the entity represents the 27 state federations and hundreds of teams across the country — not just one of them —, he added.

AND WHAT ABOUT FLAMENGO IN ALL THIS?

For the Rubro-Negro fans, the scene certainly brings back recent memories of decisions and episodes that often generate complaints involving refereeing, scheduling, and the CBF’s positions. It also raises a warning about what is still to come, especially in the race for the 2026 Brasileirão title.

In short, it is always good to remember, for example, that Palmeiras was heavily favored by refereeing in the last round of the 2026 Brasileirão. Against Chapecoense, in São Paulo, the referee ignored a legitimate goal by the team from Santa Catarina. On that occasion, Flamengo could have cut the gap to their rival by two points in the battle for the top of the Brasileirão table.

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