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Ricardo Teixeira has resigned as president of the Brazilian Football Confederation
Teixeira has also relinquished his post as head of Brazil's 2014 World Cup committee
Jose Maria Marin has been named as Teixeira's successor with immediate effect
Ricardo Teixeira has resigned as both the president of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) and head of Brazil’s organizing committee for the 2014 World Cup finals.
The 64-year-old Teixeira announced last week that he was taking a leave of absence for medical reasons, although it was not made clear what his health problem was.
And, in a statement released on the CBF’s official website, Teixeira said: “I leave the presidency of the CBF permanently with the sense of mission accomplished.
“I did what was within my reach, sacrificing my health. I was criticized in the losses and undervalued in the victories.”
His successor has already been named as Jose Maria Marin, who had been acting as CBF president in Teixeira’s absence.
But the 79-year-old Marin has has now been handed the job on a permanent basis, as he attempts to bring stability to the organization, with the World Cup finals just two years away.
One of Marin’s first announcement’s was to confirm that former World Cup winners Ronaldo and Bebeto would be joining the World Cup organizing committee.
And former Brazilian international Romario has spoken about Teixeira’s departure, saying on his official Facebook page: “Today we celebrate. We have destroyed a cancer in Brazilian football.
“I wish good luck to the new president and I hope that from now the CBF give a new face for our football.”
He continued: “I not only believe, but also hope, that a general cleaning will now be done in the CBF. Only then can we definitely be assured that change will happen in every sense.”
Teixeira, who took over as president in 1989, had been under intense pressure in recent weeks, amid unproven allegations that he was involved in bribery and embezzlement during the 1990’s.
He also came under fire from world governing body FIFA last week, with secretary general Jerome Valcke expressing his concern over the lack of progress on preparations for the 2014 World Cup.
