Brazil says Ancelotti’s contract is intact despite the sacking of the CBF president who hired him by the court

Italian manager Carlo Ancelotti will reportedly keep his Brazil job despite the court's orders to dismiss CBF president Ednaldo Rodrigues.

 The abrupt removal of Rodrigues, the architect of Ancelotti’s appointment, sparked concern about whether the Italian would still take charge of the national team. However, assurances have since been made that Brazil's project with the Real Madrid boss is moving forward as planned.

According to AS, Fernando Sarney, who has assumed the role of interim president at the CBF following Rodrigues’ dismissal, reached out personally to Ancelotti to affirm the federation’s commitment. Figures from both ends of the CBF's internal political spectrum, as well as individuals within government circles, continue to back his appointment.

 Sarney told reporters: “This isn't my decision, but I'm not going to change it now. Leave it as it is. People liked it, public opinion approved it, there's no reason to change it."

Even before officially assuming the role, Ancelotti has built rapport with many members of the Brazilian squad. His connection with Real Madrid stars Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo, who are considered future leaders of the national team, has added weight to his candidacy. Furthermore, it has been reported that veterans such as Neymar and Casemiro have also got in touch with the Italian in recent days, signalling strong support from the dressing room.

 Ancelotti is scheduled to arrive in Brazil on May 26, following the conclusion of Real Madrid’s La Liga campaign with a match against Real Sociedad. His first assignment will be against Ecuador on June 5, followed by a home match against Paraguay on June 11.

It will be recalled that a Rio de Janeiro judge removed Ednaldo Rodrigues as Brazilian football confederation president on Thursday and ordered new elections "as soon as possible." The embattled football executive later appealed to the country's Supreme Court to be returned to his position.

Rodrigues, who this week announced the signing of Carlo Ancelotti as Brazil´s national team coach, had won re-election in March to remain on the job until 2030.

But Judge Gabriel de Oliveira Zefiro's ruling puts a confederation vice president, Fernando Sarney, in charge of organising a new election. It was Sarney who had asked the court to unseat Rodrigues.

The judge ruled the agreement that validated Rodrigues' first term was null and void, and that without it, Rodrigues should not have been eligible for his second term.

Sarney said in a statement published on the Brazilian confederation website that he had already taken over to organise the new election as the longest-serving vice president of the football body. He also said "all sporting activities and current contracts will be preserved," but it is yet to be clarified whether Ancelotti's deal, confirmed by the confederation and the coach himself, is already valid.

It is the second time that Rodrigues has been removed from office by a court´s decision. A similar situation took place in December 2023, as he also negotiated with Ancelotti to take over the national team. The removal was reversed by Brazil´s Supreme Court.

Because of that earlier legal dispute in mind, the confederation's vice presidents reached an agreement in January validating Rodrigues' first term and clearing the way for him to run again.

In Thursday's ruling, the judge sided with Sarney, who claimed one of the signatories, the 86-year-old Antonio Carlos Nunes, was not mentally fit to sign the agreement.

The court had scheduled to hear Nunes on Monday to evaluate his mental state, but the hearing was suspended only hours after Ancelotti was announced by the confederation as Brazil's coach.

Zefiro wrote in his ruling that "(Nunes') mental capacity is in doubt since 2018, when he was diagnosed with brain cancer."

The confederation did not make comments about the case.v