Corinthians in turmoil as players seek answers amid looming impeachment | OneFootball

Political and administrative tension has taken center stage at Corinthians, with fallout expanding well beyond the boardroom as the club faces a critical week. President Augusto Melo, now the subject of a police indictment and an imminent impeachment vote, is at the center of controversy unsettling all corners of the club.

Several senior squad members have voiced concern to their agents and club officials, looking for clarity on what Melo’s potential removal could mean for the team’s immediate future. According to club sources, there’s increasing unease among players and staff, with discussions about the ongoing situation at the club’s CT Joaquim Grava facilities becoming an everyday occurrence. The mood is tense, and players appear cautious about public statements—unlike during a previous impeachment attempt in 2023, there has been no show of solidarity for the president from within the squad.

Efforts are being made to isolate the football department from the surrounding chaos. Executive Fabinho Soldado is reportedly working to shield players from the mounting crisis, emphasizing to the group that the club’s operations and their professional commitments remain unchanged for now. With key matches on the horizon, club management is urging focus on football, even as off-field uncertainty continues to mount.

Melo faces formal accusations following the police inquiry into the VaideBet sponsorship contract. Alongside the president, former marketing and administrative directors and the deal’s intermediary were indicted. Investigators say proceeds from club payments to one of the intermediary companies were traced to a fraudulent account linked to criminal activity. The case, now before the Public Prosecutor’s Office, hinges on whether it will proceed to court, where Melo and others could face criminal trial on charges including qualified theft, criminal association, and money laundering.

The legal cloud is having a ripple effect on Corinthians’ commercial relationships. Several sponsors have asked for their brands to be kept out of the spotlight during Friday’s press event with Melo at Neo Química Arena, a departure from standard protocol. The solution—a black cloth covering the sponsor backdrop and deactivated screens—underscores partners’ desire to distance themselves from the scandal.

As the political crisis deepens, infighting has spilled into the open. In a separate episode, Melo formally requested the expulsion of former financial director Rozallah Santoro, accusing him of financial mismanagement, failing to deliver required reports, and mishandling contractual obligations to midfielder Matías Rojas. Santoro rejected the claims, countering that it was Melo’s decision to prioritize other payments and that the contract in question was not his responsibility, branding the president’s accusations as false.

The decisive impeachment vote takes place Monday. Should the council vote to remove Melo, vice-president Osmar Stabile would assume the presidency on an interim basis. With so much at stake both on and off the pitch, Corinthians faces one of its most destabilizing weeks in recent memory.

Source: UOL, Globo