Row topples Carlos Sadi, opposition seek new running mate for Marcelinho | OneFootball

São Paulo’s opposition is reassessing the makeup of the ticket that will contest the club’s presidential elections at the end of this year. In light of the negative backlash caused by statements with elitist and prejudiced undertones made by council member Carlos Sadi, the bloc is considering removing his name from the nomination for vice president on the ticket led by Marcelinho Portugal Gouvêa. According to what AVANTE MEU TRICOLOR has learned, discussions and meetings took place throughout this Friday (4), and there is a consensus that his name is no longer in a position to lead a run in the election.

Although Sadi’s nomination had not been made official, the move intensified internal debates and prompted public statements of repudiation from the pre-candidate, as well as from his main political ally, Olten Ayres de Abreu, president of the Deliberative Council, and from groups that make up the opposition bloc, including his own.

Internal backlash and political reactions

The statements caused major discomfort and were rebutted by club leaders:

Marcelinho Portugal Gouvêa (Presidential Candidate): He repudiated the content of the interview, stressing that the ticket has not been officially launched. “Sadi is a person I respect and who stands with us in defending São Paulo, but he was unfortunate in his remarks. I disagree with the content of what was said. As for the candidacy, it is worth remembering that there has been no final decision regarding the names, nor any official launch.”

Olten Ayres de Abreu (President of the Deliberative Council): A member of the Força São Paulo group, Olten stressed that Sadi’s nomination had not been endorsed by the collective and rejected the elitist stance. “São Paulo’s tradition cannot be used to justify elitism or to disqualify people because of their social condition. No one is any less of a São Paulo supporter for living in Itaquera, Paraisópolis, or anywhere else.”

Salve o Tricolor Paulista Group (STP): In a statement, the opposition group described the remarks as “unfortunate and politically incorrect,” saying they were made in a strictly personal capacity, but added that the council member showed remorse after talks with the coordinators.

Carlos Sadi’s statements

The remarks were made on August 26, during a live interview on the ‘São Paulo Digital‘ channel. While criticizing the club’s current political structure and the profile of its members, the council member made pejorative references to neighborhoods and social classes:

“São Paulo has lost its glamour. ‘Oh, but are you nostalgic?’ No. (…) If I didn’t have glamour, I’d support Corinthians and live in Itaquera, sorry. I really am elitist (…). Now you’ve brought the low-ranking crowd in here to work, man. Sorry, you married a woman from Paraisópolis and now her whole family is living with you, you get it?”

Sadi also made pejorative criticisms about the age and behavior of fellow Council members during the vote on the statutory reform, referring to them as “Methuselahs” and comparing them to “coastal guys who work for me in Guarujá.” At another point, he questioned the body’s political makeup:

“What they [the ruling group] did was: let’s elect people who spell ‘exception’ with an X, others who like two rolls with mortadella, and so on. That way you control Congress in your favor.”

Sadi’s position and uncertainty surrounding the ticket

In his defense, Carlos Sadi acknowledged that he was wrong in the way he expressed himself and claimed he had been misunderstood about the aim of his criticism:

“It was a mistake. I was misunderstood; the world has changed. What I meant was that the people who took over the club did not grasp the magnitude of the club’s history and size, but I didn’t know how to express myself. Matter closed.”

Despite the retraction, Sadi’s remaining as the name for the vice presidency is practically ruled out. In the coming days, the opposition groups are expected to align on the nomination of a new name to join Marcelinho Portugal Gouvêa on the ticket before the official announcement of the election.

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