Fakayejo Paul
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – Brazilian football legend Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima has announced he is withdrawing his candidacy for the presidency of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), citing a lack of support and closed doors from regional federations.
Ronaldo revealed that his efforts to engage with the 27 affiliated federations were met with significant resistance. “In my first contact with the 27 affiliates, I found 23 closed doors,” he stated.
“The federations refused to receive me in their homes, arguing that they were satisfied with the current administration and supported re-election.”
The former World Cup winner expressed his frustration at the lack of opportunity to present his vision and engage in dialogue. “I couldn’t present my project, share my ideas and have them heard as I would have liked. There was no opening for dialogue,” he explained, as reported by Relevo.
This decision marks a significant setback for Ronaldo’s aspirations to reform Brazilian football governance.
His withdrawal highlights the challenges faced when attempting to challenge established power structures within the sport.