By Andrew Warshaw
February 16 – The reign of corruption-tainted Brazilian powerbroker Ricardo Teixeira looks set to end after months of growing pressure.
Media reports in the country say Teixeira – one of FIFA’s most senior executives – will step down after 23 years as President of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), though there was no indication whether he would give up his role in the organisation of the 2014 World Cup, despite recent ill-health and his all-powerful role coming under increasing scrutiny.
Last year Teixeira was cleared by a FIFA probe after former English Football Association chairman Lord Triesman accused him of demanding bribes to vote for England’s 2018 World Cup bid.
He is also understood to be one of those cited in hotly anticipated but as yet unpublished documentation detailing alleged kickbacks from ISL, FIFA’s collapsed former TV rights company.
At home, the increasingly unpopular Teixeira has been subject of a fraud squad investigation into allegations of money laundering and has had a long-running feud with national hero Pele.
According to Brazil’s O Globo newspaper, his successor as head of Brazilian football will be Jose Maria Marin, one of the vice-presidents of the CBF.
The news came as another newspaper, Folha de S.Paulo, reported that a company linked to Teixeira overcharged organisers of a friendly between Brazil and Portugal in 2008.
Contact the writer of this story at zib.l1734834545labto1734834545ofdlr1734834545owedi1734834545sni@w1734834545ahsra1734834545w.wer1734834545dna1734834545
Related stories
February 2012: Blatter faces another setback as ISL dossier is delayed by Swiss Supreme Court case
January 2012: “The gangsters must not escape punishment” says man brought in to clean up FIFA
January 2012: “Exasperating” ISL dossier to be revealed by end of January, says Blatter
January 2012: Beleaguered Teixeira to appeal against release of ISL documents
January 2012: Teixeira makes himself scarce as FIFA’s Valcke heads to Brazil