RIO DE JANEIRO: Ricardo Teixeira’s profiteering from selling the rights of Brazil’s friendly games has long been out in the open. But a new report has exposed the depth of command ceded to one of the marketing companies involved writes KEIR RADNEDGE.
The latest investigation into the activities of the former president of the Brazilian football confedersation details how approval from Internacional Sports Events was required for any change in the Brazilian squad.
According to Jamil Chade of Estado of Sao Paulo, top players had to start each game with no room for youngsters until they had become established as having sufficient “marketing value.”
The report states that Teixeira and his father-in-law, former FIFA president Joao Havelange, made nearly $40m in commissions from the contract.
In return, it gave ISE – a sport listed in the Cayman Islands and with no official employees – exclusive marketing rights for all Brazil matches as well as sole possession of the ability to sell broadcast rights.
ISE is a subsidiary of Saudi Arabian contract and holdings company Dallah-Al Bakara. It also had business links in the past with the former Barcelona president Sandro Rosell who had been a friend and business associate of Teixeira.
Exco member
Teixeira was a member of the executive committee of world federation FIFA until fleeing Brazil three years ago to live in Miami under pressure of the weight of financial scandal surrounding him.
It was reported in Brazilian media that he continued to receive consultancy fees from the CBF by arrangement with his hand-picked successor, Jose Maria Marin.
The revelation about the depth of control exerted by sponsors may reawaken debate about the controversial selection of Ronaldo for the 1998 World Cup Final after the star striker had collapsed earlier in the day.
The CBF and the then manager, Mario Zagallo, also rejected claims that Ronaldo’s presence in the team had been demanded by team liaison officials from CBF sponsor Nike.
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