Rubão on Augusto Melo's expulsion and Corinthians' political future | OneFootball

After Corinthians’ Deliberative Council decided to expel Augusto Melo from the club’s membership, former football director Rubens Gomes, known as Rubão, commented on the voting result in an interview with Central do Timão. Present at Parque São Jorge, the executive spoke about his relationship with the former president, assessed Corinthians’ political moment, and defended keeping the club’s membership-based model.

Initially, Rubão was asked about the decision that led to Augusto Melo’s removal from the membership rolls. The former executive said he sees the measure as a form of justice in light of the events involving the previous administration.

Photo: Reproduction / Central do Timão YouTube

“I think justice was served. When I was by his side, I didn’t know he was a swindler, that he had planned to rob Corinthians. I think justice was done, that’s all. Because people who, according to the police and the Public Prosecutor’s Office, start collecting money before even entering the club—I had never seen that before.”

Next, the former director commented on Corinthians’ recent political landscape, which has seen different executives leave over the last few years.

“I think it’s sad, because I was always in opposition to Andrés. During his 16 years in power, I was in opposition. Then we elect someone, trusting that person, and on the very first day you find out that he is, according to the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the police, robbing Corinthians. That’s what is happening.

It’s regrettable, it’s sad, but we are trying to do what has to be done, to get Corinthians back on track. It’s difficult, it’s difficult, but we’re going to try to get Corinthians back on track. This is very sad, it brings us no pleasure. And when you trust someone and what happened happens, you’re left completely exposed. And that’s what happened to me. On the very first day I found out he was robbing Corinthians and I told him to sort it out, otherwise there would be trouble. And there was.”

Asked about the club’s administrative model, Rubão said he still believes in the membership-based system, despite the difficulties currently being faced.

“I do. I think Corinthians has lived for 116 years under the membership-based model. A lot has to change, we know that, a lot has to change. But right now, we hope we can manage to work. Corinthians is not managing to work. Every day there’s bad news. So we have to rebuild, because if you go back a few years, there was opposition, but there were proposals. Today there isn’t. There’s only war, war, war all the time.”

The former executive also spoke about the lessons he learned after his experience alongside Augusto Melo and reflected on trust within Corinthians politics.

“No, I have no regrets because I didn’t know he was the kind of person he was. I trusted him. I have no regrets. I would do it again for another person who showed themselves to be honest, I would. But I learned a lot. I learned a lot that when a person gets to power, they change. Then they set up a luxury box for their wife, a luxury box for their nephew, a luxury box for who knows who, and then the party starts, they start collecting money before even taking office as president.

Today justice was done, he was expelled. Great. At least that. That’s what happened. What happened afterward was regrettable, because people had another vote right after that and weren’t able to vote, but okay.”

When asked whether he would place the same level of trust in someone again in the future, Rubão said he now sees the political scene differently after the recent events.

“So, you asked me whether I learned. I learned a lot. So from now on, I’ve learned a lot. I’m going to think, reflect, and look into whatever I decide to do, you know? When I went to talk to him and told him to fix the situation, he said... I said: ‘Go ahead, because I’m going to remove you.’ He said: ‘Yes, you don’t have the votes.’ I said: ‘Alright.’ Proven.”

Finally, Rubão also commented on the relationship between Augusto Melo’s expulsion and the process involving the attempted political coup at the club. According to him, the episode represents one of the most delicate moments in Corinthians’ recent history.

“That’s a very good question, because actually, his expulsion was because of a coup he tried to carry out. Together with the people involved in today’s agenda, they tried to stage a coup. And it is one of the saddest days in Corinthians’ history, in my opinion, because Corinthians is the team of democracy. Corinthians raised the banner of democracy, you know?

But he lost the vote on the 26th and, on the 31st, wanted to stage a coup, you know? So we will continue being the team of democracy and the symbol of democracy. Neither I nor anyone else will be able to take that label away from Corinthians, nor does anyone intend to, because it is one of the most beautiful labels I think Corinthians has.”

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