São Paulo court rules Corinthians lifetime council seats illegal, but order is stayed | OneFootball

According to Meu Timao, a São Paulo court has ruled that Corinthians' lifetime seats on its Deliberative Council are illegal, but the order is provisionally stayed pending appeal.

The decision was issued on Monday by judge Guilherme Augusto de Oliveira Barna of the 4th Civil Court of the Tatuapé Regional Forum. He placed the ruling under automatic suspensive effect while any appeal to the São Paulo Court of Justice is considered.

Corinthians currently has 100 lifetime councillors. If the judgment becomes final, they would remain on the council but with the same status as the 200 elected members, serving three-year terms and standing in elections.

The case was brought by councillor Peterson Ruan Aiello do Couto Ramos and member Caio César Domingues de Almeida. Citing the Lei Geral do Esporte, Law 14.597/2023, and the Civil Code, the judge said democratic governance requires renewal and periodic elections, and that a permanent bloc of about one third concentrates disproportionate influence and reduces members' participation.

The claimants contend the club's management model contributed to debts now exceeding R$ 2.7 billion. Corinthians argued for keeping lifetime councillors and current electoral rules as part of its historic, legitimate structure, protected by the constitutional autonomy of sports entities. The court also struck down the five-year membership requirement to vote or run, calling it an excessive restriction.

Source: Meu Timao

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”