Teixeira takes indefinite medical leave

By Andrew Warshaw

March 9 – After months of rumour and counter-rumour about his state of health, Ricardo Teixeira (pictured), controversial President of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) and head of Brazil 2014, has taken an indefinite medical leave of absence.

Teixeira, who has been the subject of repeated corruption allegations, is reported to be suffering from diverticulitis, a bowel disorder.

“Ricardo sent a letter to the federation Presidents informing them of his leave for medical reasons, but he did not say for how long,” Delfim Peixoto, President of the football federation in the southern state of Santa Catarina, said.

Teixeira’s leave of absence could last up to 180 days, according to the CBF statutes.

It was not immediately clear if, crucially, he would also step down from the increasingly under-fire Brazil 2014 World Cup Organising Committee.

“When you’re in bad health you’ve got to take care of it,” said Marco Polo Del Nero, President of the São Paulo State Football Federation.

Although Teixeira, one of FIFA’s most prominent executives, denies any wrongdoing and has never been convicted, there were widespread rumours a week ago that he was going to quit his various roles.

This was denied by a General Assembly which stated he had the support of all local federations.

He has run Brazilian football since 1989 but has not been able to escape repeated claims of misconduct that have stretched his credibility to the limit.

In 2001, an investigation by Brazil’s Congress accused him of 13 crimes ranging from tax evasion to money laundering although no charges were ever brought.

Last year, Lord Triesman, the former head of the English Football Association, claimed Teixeira offered him money in exchange for supporting England’s 2018 World Cup bid.

He has also been linked to the damaging ISL corruption scandal relating to financial kickbacks allegedly taken by FIFA powerbrokers from the organisation’s former marketing partner.

And as recently as February, a Brazilian newspaper alleged a company linked to Teixeira overcharged organisers of a November 2008 friendly match between Brazil and Portugal.

In the past few weeks, Teixeira had turned much of Brazil 2014’s work over to Ronaldo (pictured right), the former Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Barcelona striker whom he appointed to the World Cup Organising Committee’s Management Board on December 1.

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