Caretaker saddened after taking São Paulo job: “Not like this” | OneFootball

New interim president of São Paulo, Harry Massis Jr. gave a speech to the press after taking office at the club. He assumed the position on Friday night, after the Deliberative Council approved the impeachment of Julio Casares due to recent police scandals.

Massis said he was sad to take over the presidency of Tricolor under these circumstances. “I will start getting informed as of tomorrow. I was very distant. I’m sad, this is not what I wanted. São Paulo doesn’t deserve this. I never wanted to take over in this way,” he stated.

The executive also promised transparency and hard work to “protect the institution.” See below the full statement from the interim president:

“Today is not a simple day for our club. It is a day of responsibility. I assume the presidency with great respect for the history of this institution and for the fans, who are our greatest asset. Everyone knows we are going through a difficult time, there are ongoing investigations that need to be handled with seriousness, calm, and respect for the institutions, with the right of defense for each person involved. What I can say with complete clarity is: the club will go on. It will continue competing, honoring its shirt and history. The management that begins today has a simple commitment: to take care of the club, protect the institution, and act with responsibility and transparency. This is not the time for hasty judgments or empty speeches. It is a time for work, serenity, and respect for our fans. I ask for trust and, above all, unity. The club is much bigger than any executive or crisis. It is for the club that we will work every day.”

(Photo: André Costa/Gazeta Press)

Casares’ Removal

In total, 235 council members attended the meeting that approved the impeachment of Julio Casares. There were 188 votes in favor of removal and 45 against, along with two blank votes. The atmosphere at the meeting was cordial. Initially, Casares and his lawyers presented their defense before the Council. Afterwards, the signatories of the impeachment request also made their arguments.

Outside, however, there was a lot of pressure. São Paulo fans protested with banners and fireworks around Morumbis, demanding the impeachment of Julio Casares.

The pressure on Casares increased as recent events unfolded. In light of the controversies reported in the press and the cases investigated by the Civil Police, fans held strong demonstrations and protests against the president. The main São Paulo supporter groups, Independente and Dragões da Real, demanded his resignation even before the impeachment vote was scheduled.

Meet Harry Massis Jr.

Harry Massis Júnior, 80 years old, is a businessman and has been a São Paulo member since 1964. A lifetime council member at the club, he has held various roles at Tricolor. Between 2001 and 2002, for example, he served as deputy football director. He was also deputy administrative director between 1992 and 1993.

According to the São Paulo Statute, Massis Jr. will remain at the club until the end of the ousted president’s term. That is, he will lead Tricolor until the end of 2026.

Next Steps

Now, Olten Ayres, president of the São Paulo Deliberative Council, will have to set a date for the General Assembly of Members, which is the final stage of the removal process and includes the participation of the club’s associates.

Casares will remain suspended from his duties until the final result of the General Assembly is announced. If the members endorse his removal, the president will be definitively ousted. On the other hand, if the members are against the impeachment, he will return to the presidential seat as normal.

If Julio Casares is definitively removed from the presidency after the General Assembly of Members, he will lose the remainder of his term, which was set to last until the end of 2026. However, he will remain a club member and will be eligible to run for any other position in a future election.

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