RIO DE JANEIRO: Ricardo Teixeira, apparently back from his 40-day ‘leave of absence’ from all football duties, has proved the point by dismissing his uncle and long-time right-hand-man  from the Brazilian football confederation.

Teixeira, former son-in-law of former FIFA president Joao Havelange and under continuous fire over a series of scandals, removed Marco Antonio Teixeira as secretary-general on Friday.

Marco Antonio had been with the CBF for 21 years but his powers in his particular role had been curtailed by the president over the last few years.

Ricardo Teixeira is the power behind the Brazilian local organising committee of the 2014 World Cup and a member of the executive committee of the world football federation FIFA. He is thought to be among a group of objectors to FIFA president Sepp Blatter’s attempt to open up to public view court documents relating to illicit payments by ISL, the now-bankrupt former marketing partner of FIFA and the IOC.

In mid-December he notified FIFA and the CBF that he was taking a break from his duties until the end of January. He was reported to be undergoing health care abroad.