Palmeiras president grows closer to CBF chief at Copa, says journalist | OneFootball

Leila Pereira and Samir Xaud are growing increasingly close

If anyone still had doubts that the relationship between the CBF and Palmeiras is going through a moment of absolute harmony, perhaps it is time to look at the flight plan. After all, the president of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), Samir Xaud, seems to have found a new means of transportation to follow the 2026 World Cup: the private jet of Palmeiras president Leila Pereira.

According to information reported by Lauro Jardim, from ‘O Globo’, the partnership went beyond institutional meetings and took off. That is because Xaud has already used Leila’s aircraft at least twice during the World Cup held in North America.

HOW DID THE TRIPS HAPPEN?

The first ride happened on the trip from Brazil to Mexico. Samir Xaud boarded Leila Pereira’s Dassault Falcon 8X, an executive aircraft capable of carrying up to 16 passengers and making intercontinental nonstop flights.

As if one trip were not enough to prove the good relationship, the CBF president did it again later. This time, he used the same plane on the trip between Mexico City and New York, where he attended commitments related to the World Cup.

SO, WHAT IS THE AUTHOR’S OPINION?

— Naturally, club and CBF officials interact at events, meetings, and competitions. However, when that interaction comes to include travel on a private aircraft during the world’s main football competition, the image conveyed inevitably draws attention — began Pedro Paulo Catonho, journalist and assistant editor at Coluna do Fla.

— Even more so at a time when the CBF should be reinforcing a stance of equal distance from all clubs in Brazilian football. After all, the entity represents the 27 state federations and hundreds of teams across the country — not just one of them —, he added.

AND WHAT ABOUT FLAMENGO IN ALL THIS?

For the Rubro-Negro supporter, the scene certainly brings back recent memories of decisions and episodes that frequently generate complaints involving refereeing, the schedule, and the CBF’s positions. It also raises a warning about what is still to come, especially in the race for the 2026 Brasileirão title.

In short, it is always good to remember, for example, that Palmeiras was widely favored by refereeing in the last round of the 2026 Brasileirão. Against Chapecoense, in São Paulo, the referee ignored a legitimate goal by the team from Santa Catarina. On that occasion, Flamengo could have cut the gap to their rival at the top of the Brasileirão table by two points.

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