Ousted ex-CBF chief gains ground as opposition pick at São Paulo | OneFootball

Behind-the-scenes news shook the São Paulo fan community on Sunday (17), when a change in the club’s electoral landscape for the succession of president Harry Massis, scheduled for December, came to light.

Leaders of the opposition to Massis have moved forward in negotiations to launch a ticket headed by Rogério Caboclo, former president of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), with Vinícius Pinotti as the vice-presidential candidate.

The alliance currently has the support of around 120 of the 250 council members eligible to vote in the election. For the presidency of the Deliberative Council, the name gaining traction behind the scenes is Caio Forjaz, who is viewed positively by the group.

The current setup represents a shift in discussions within the opposition wing. Until a few days ago, businessman Dáurio Speranzini was seen as the main option to lead the bloc. However, the viability of his name lost momentum amid growing resistance among members and councilors.

Members of the group admit that although Speranzini is considered prepared for the role, the political damage surrounding the disclosure of his involvement in Operation Car Wash in 2018, when he was even arrested, made it impossible to build a competitive candidacy. Repeated criticism of the businessman behind the scenes at the club began to directly influence the electorate. A decision made at the beginning of last year by the Federal Supreme Court, however, cleared him due to lack of evidence.

With Speranzini stepping back, Rogério Caboclo has emerged as the main alternative. Sources say the former executive has intensified talks with different political factions at the club in recent days and has shown willingness to run for the position. Allies argue that he combines administrative experience with strong connections among council members, although they acknowledge that his name still faces internal resistance.

Caboclo’s potential candidacy also brings his tenure at the CBF, between 2019 and 2021, back into the debate. That period was cut short after allegations of moral and sexual harassment made by an employee of the organization, which led to internal investigations and legal proceedings.

Caboclo’s name was not well received on social media, precisely because of the allegations from when he headed the CBF. At the time, audio of an inappropriate conversation with her was released by TV Globo. The executive described his remarks as “inappropriate jokes.” He has always denied the accusations and was cleared in court in early 2024.

The former CBF president is a lifetime council member, but not very active at São Paulo. Records of his family’s involvement with the club go back to the 1960s, and his father, for example, took part in Henri Aidar’s administration at the start of the following decade.

The initiative to replace Speranzini with Caboclo came from Pinotti, leader of the Novo São Paulo group, a splinter faction of Participação, which has shifted from pro-administration to opposition in recent months. In the former football director’s view, the previous lineup was not being well received by members.

With Pinotti, Caboclo and others, São Paulo’s opposition takes on a new shape and is now made up of former supporters of Julio Casares. The bloc has gained strength in recent days with the backing of Olten Ayres de Abreu, the suspended president of the Deliberative Council, and is seeking public support from heavyweight political names, such as former presidents José Mesquita Pimenta and Fernando Casal de Rey.

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