The era of Ricardo Teixeira ended with a letter of resignation, officially for health reasons, controversial character of green and gold football. His place has already been filled by the vice president of the CBF, the Brazilian Football Federation, the 79-year-old José Maria Marin. He will have to ferry the country towards the 2014 World Cup and he has already promised that he will give continuity to the work of his predecessor.
His was a very controversial management, with some highlights and lots of shadows. During the 23 years in which he presided over green and gold football, he put the accounts of the Football Federation in order, recording assets of 2010 million euros in 35. In the 90s he reorganized the country's championships by introducing the "Italian-style" group, as requested by public opinion, and it created the conditions for sponsors and televisions to make greater investments in the world of football. Among his successes also the creation of the Copa do Brasil which allowed smaller clubs to win a space in international tournaments. But above all, the merit of having brought the organization of the World Cup back to Brazil after 64 years. Nor should the two titles (1994 and 2002) won by Selecao be forgotten.
And one of the protagonists of the American World Cup expressed all his satisfaction after Teixeira's resignation: "Today we can celebrate – ex-bomber Romario, now a parliamentarian, harshly commented on Facebook We have eradicated cancer from football." The former green and gold football boss has in fact been at the center of many scandals, journalistic investigations and parliamentary commissions which over the years have tried to shed light on episodes of corruption, false invoices, smuggling and money laundering in tax havens. After the umpteenth case revealed in February by the Folha de S. Paulo newspaper, the spotlight had turned back on him. The resignation would be a consequence of the latest suspicions that have begun to hover over the most important man in Brazilian football. Indeed, his uncomfortable position risked creating further friction in relations between Fifa and the Brazilian government, which last week was heavily criticized by the general secretary of Fifa, Jerome Valcke, due to the delays in the works for the next World Cup.
On the other hand, another protagonist of 1994, Bebeto, regretted his resignation. While on the field he was a regular partner with Romario, in the official statements he completely distanced himself from the former twin of the goal. As well as Ronaldo, great ally and defender of the football boss: “I regret the resignation of Ricardo Teixeira – said the Phenomenon – but we must respect his decision to take care of health and family. A historic era for Brazilian football ends and another parenthesis opens right in the middle of a delicate phase. The next World Cup is around the corner and we will have to see how the Football Federation, now without its boss, will complete the preparations.
