Ethics request cites fake news, misconduct and politics at Corinthians | OneFootball

A group of 54 Corinthians council members, most of them lifetime members, formally filed a complaint last Wednesday (1st) with the Ethics and Discipline Committee of the club’s Deliberative Council. The document requests the opening of disciplinary proceedings against three-year council member Peterson Ruan Aiello do Couto Ramos, whom they accuse of conduct considered incompatible with the club’s bylaws.

The initiative, led by lifetime council member Jacinto Antônio Ribeiro, better known as Jaça, is based on allegations of ethical and disciplinary violations which, according to the signatories, include abuse of rights, misuse of office, and an attempt to destabilize the institution, as well as public statements that allegedly harmed the honor of other council members and of the body itself.

Photo: José Manoel Idalgo/Agência Corinthians

Statements in interview come under scrutiny

Among the main points highlighted in the complaint is Peterson’s participation in a live broadcast held on March 24 on the YouTube channel “Décimo 14.” According to the document, during the interview, the council member made statements considered offensive when commenting on the actions of the lifetime members.

“The respondent, in expressing a position against the existence of lifetime council members at Sport Club Corinthians Paulista, stated that when matters of interest to them are put to a vote, they show up at the club ‘with an oxygen tank, a wheelchair, crutches, terminally ill, just to vote’,” says an excerpt from the filing to which Central do Timão had access.

The authors of the complaint classify the remark as “ableist and ageist” and argue that it disrespects not only members of the Deliberative Council, but also people with disabilities and the elderly in general. The text argues that such conduct goes against principles of civility and respect set out in the club’s bylaws, and also mentions a possible violation of laws such as the Elderly Statute and the Statute of the Person with Disabilities.

Still in the same context, the council members claim that the respondent disclosed information considered untrue when addressing the composition of internal groups within the Council, especially when mentioning the number of members in the “União dos Vitalícios” slate. According to the complaint, the statement created a distorted narrative about the balance of power within the body.

Another excerpt from the interview is also cited in the document, in which the three-year council member allegedly attributed to lifetime council member Rubens Gomes, also a signatory to the request, conduct that the authors of the complaint interpret as defamatory, by suggesting improper behavior during a discussion that took place within the Council.

Questioning the legitimacy of lifetime council members

The complaint also addresses a request previously filed by the council member with the presidency of the Deliberative Council, in which he asks for documentary proof of the legitimacy of the lifetime council members, including historical records of their elections.

In the request, Peterson argues that the bylaw provision for lifetime council members with indefinite terms, without being subject to periodic elections, is incompatible with the principles governing civil associations, especially regarding rotation of power, equality among members, and term limits.

For the authors of the new filing, the initiative goes beyond the limits of the regular exercise of the office’s prerogatives and amounts to an attempt to collectively discredit the lifetime members. The text emphasizes that these council members were appointed through formal processes, with approval in internal bodies and at the club’s General Assembly.

The signatories also argue that the public release of this request even before any admissibility review worsened the institutional impact of the measure, by exposing questions about the legitimacy of the body to public opinion.

Allegation of political use of office

The document also states that the council member’s actions took on the character of political self-promotion, using institutional visibility to build a public narrative critical of the functioning of the Deliberative Council.

According to the council members, expressions used by the respondent indicate a communication strategy aimed at polarization and delegitimizing his peers, which, in the group’s view, contributes to increasing internal and external tensions.

“By using expressions such as ‘almost absolute power’ and ‘blockers of issues,’ the respondent deliberately builds a populist narrative based on the dichotomous logic of ‘us versus them,’ with the clear purpose of publicly delegitimizing members of the Deliberative Council. Such conduct affects citizens of unblemished reputation, who for decades have rendered relevant services to Sport Club Corinthians Paulista, with the evident intention of gaining political capital and increasing his media exposure at the expense of the honor of his own peers,” says another excerpt from the filing submitted by the council members.

The complaint even mentions reports of verbal attacks against council members on social media and in public settings, which allegedly led to police reports and investigations. For the signatories, this reinforces the potential impact of the statements on the club’s institutional stability.

Request for investigation and possible sanction

Based on the arguments presented, the 54 council members request that the complaint be accepted by the Ethics and Discipline Committee, with the consequent opening of proceedings to investigate the facts.

The group also requests the application of any disciplinary sanction, if the alleged violations are confirmed, based on Article 89 of the club’s bylaws, which grants the committee authority to conduct proceedings of this nature.

The document concludes by highlighting the need to preserve the institutional integrity of the Deliberative Council, considered one of Corinthians’ main governing bodies.

Contacted by Central do Timão, council member Peterson Ruan said he had not had prior access to the contents of the complaint, but disputed the criticism and reiterated his position regarding the lifetime council members. In a statement, he said that his criticism is directed at the roles, not the people, and stressed that the lifetime system is one of the factors that contributed to the club’s financial, ethical, and political problems. He also described the system as harmful and again defended changes in governance, with more transparency, renewal, and greater participation by members.

“I maintain my position. All the criticism I make of the positions of lifetime council members is directed at the roles, not the people. It is essential to establish that distinction. Even so, the lifetime system is one of the factors that contributed to the club reaching a critical situation in financial, ethical, and political terms.

The events seen in the last two council meetings clearly show that this position is correct. Corinthians cannot be run by individuals who are not subject to the scrutiny of the club’s membership and, above all, its fans.

It is essential for Corinthians to open itself to a new governance model, guided by modernity, professionalization, and the technical qualifications of those holding management positions. It is no longer acceptable to maintain practices such as “you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours,” which are incompatible with the management standards required in the 21st century. In this context, ending lifetime tenure, fighting nepotism, expanding voting rights to Fiel Torcedor members, and promoting transparency are essential measures for institutional progress.

In the current Corinthians scenario, there is a lack of alternation of power and, above all, a disconnect from the perception of millions of fans, who are outraged by the club’s direction and do not feel properly represented. This feeling is even stronger regarding lifetime council members, who are not subject to electoral processes and whose permanence stems from nominations made many years ago. The lack of renewal through voting tends to distance the officeholder from the primary purpose of the role: safeguarding the interests of the club member, the fans, and Corinthians itself.

I therefore reiterate my defense of ending lifetime tenure, convinced that Corinthians must stand above any individual interests, always guided by the collective and institutional interest.“

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