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

Backstage news shook the São Paulo fanbase on Sunday (17), when a change in the club’s electoral landscape was confirmed regarding the succession of president Harry Massis, scheduled for December.

Leaders of the opposition to Massis have advanced talks to launch a ticket headed by Rogério Caboclo, former president of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), with Vinícius Pinotti as the candidate for vice president.

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.

Group members admit that although Speranzini is considered prepared for the role, the political fallout surrounding the revelation of his involvement in Operation Car Wash in 2018, when he was arrested, made it impossible to build a competitive candidacy. Recurring criticism of the businessman behind the scenes at the club began to directly influence the electorate. A decision made early 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 dialogue with different political factions within the club in recent days and has shown willingness to run for the position. Allies argue that he combines administrative experience with influence among the council members, although they acknowledge that his name still faces internal resistance.

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

Caboclo’s name was not well received on social media, precisely because of the allegations from when he was president of 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 by the courts 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 date back to the 1960s, and his father, for example, was part of Henri Aidar’s administration in the early part of the following decade.

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

With Pinotti, Caboclo and others, São Paulo’s opposition has taken 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, suspended president of the Deliberative Council, and is negotiating public support from heavyweight political figures 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.