Revolution brewing: Corinthians set for historic fan power shift | OneFootball

Corinthians’ efforts to overhaul their club statute have gained new momentum, but remain entangled in the leadership turbulence that has defined much of the past season at Parque São Jorge.

The discussion around statutory reform is hardly new. Detailed talks began in February 2024, led by Romeu Tuma Júnior, then-president of the club’s Deliberative Council and a key advocate for modernization. Since then, proposed changes have gone through multiple rounds of public hearings and committee sessions, incorporating the input of all political factions as well as organized supporter groups.

A central proposal gaining traction is the expansion of electoral rights to members of the Fiel Torcedor scheme—a move advocated vocally by Gaviões da Fiel president Alexandre Domênico. Speaking to councillors this week, Domênico called the current system—where about 4,500 long-standing social club members decide Corinthians’ presidential elections—outdated. “The Corinthians supporter anywhere in the world should have the right to choose the president. That’s what we want,” he said. The club’s preliminary statutory draft accommodates this demand, though critical parameters—such as minimum membership periods and eligibility based on consistent participation—are still under debate.

Previous reform efforts have been repeatedly stalled, most recently by the impeachment process involving suspended president Augusto Melo amid the VaideBet scandal. With the Council’s focus shifting almost entirely to this crisis, statutory discussions had effectively ground to a halt.

However, the timeline for reform is set to advance following the decisive General Assembly on August 9, where members will vote on Melo’s removal. Only after this assembly will club leadership reconvene all party representatives to settle details around the new voting system, including whether reforms are adopted as a complete package in one meeting or in parts—a factor likely to affect how swift the process will be. Further tweaks to the draft statute remain possible as political negotiations play out.

If approved by the Council and ratified in a subsequent General Assembly, the new statute would take immediate effect, likely before year’s end. Council members privately anticipate the reform process will conclude by late 2025.

Recent events have added urgency to the proceedings. On May 31, Augusto Melo, with the support of sympathetic members of the club’s Ethics Commission and administrative staff, attempted to forcibly reclaim the presidency via invalid documentation. Though unsuccessful, this move has prompted council members to stress the importance of closing legal loopholes in the new statute to prevent similar power plays in the future.

At the heart of these reforms is the push to democratize club governance and address long-standing supporter demands—a shift that, if enacted, would significantly expand the club’s electoral base and reframe the relationship between its vast fanbase and the boardroom. The specific shape and safeguards of that new relationship are now the central questions as Corinthians’ leadership seeks to steady itself amid turbulence.

Source: UOL