RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil, May 16, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - A court in Rio de Janeiro ordered the dismissal Thursday of Brazilian football federation head Ednaldo Rodrigues, citing problems in his employment agreement.

Rodrigues had already been temporarily suspended in 2023 after a court found irregularities with his 2022 election, but was reinstated on orders of a Supreme Court judge after FIFA threatened sanctions against Brazilian football.

On Thursday, a judge ruled that an employment agreement between Rodrigues and the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), was "null" and void.

FIFA and the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) had refused to accept Rodrigues's 2023 ouster, warning the CBF it could be barred from international competitions if it allowed external interference in its affairs.

Rodrigues, the first black president in CBF history, had been leading negotiations to sign Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti as coach, a bid that fell apart at the time.

Ancelotti was finally appointed to the job just this week, replacing Zinedine Zidane.

In March, Rodrigues was unanimously reelected to his post until 2030.

But the Rio court said Thursday one of the signatories of Rodrigues's 2025 contract had been mentally unfit to sign, meaning there had been "possible forgery."

Rodrigues told journalists at a FIFA meeting in Asuncion Thursday, ahead of the judgment, he had "absolute certainty" the document was valid.