SAO PAULO, Brazil (AFP) — The Brazilian football federation (CBF) unanimously returned Ednaldo Rodrigues to the role of president on Monday, confirming his reelection as the sole candidate after star ex-striker Ronaldo had already pulled out of the race.

Rodrigues was reelected until 2030, thanks to the support of the 27 regional federations representing the country’s different states and the 40 clubs in the top two divisions.

In a statement, the 71-year-old celebrated “the triumph of democracy.”

“In recent years, we have suffered all kinds of prejudice and persecution,” said Rodrigues, who also claimed he was the victim of a “putsch” at the end of 2023, when he was temporarily removed from his role by court order.

Rodrigues was elected CBF president in 2022, replacing Rogerio Caboclo who had been accused of moral and sexual harassment.

But he returned to office in early 2024, on the orders of a Brazilian Supreme Court judge, after the International Football Federation and the South American Confederation (CONMEBOL) threatened Brazil with sporting sanctions for government interference in CBF affairs.

His reelection on Monday was a formality, after 2002 World Cup winner Ronaldo announced on 12 March that he was giving up running for president of the country’s football governing body due to a lack of support from regional federations.

“If the majority of those who have the power to decide feel that football is in good hands, it doesn’t matter what I think,” Ronaldo said at the time.

The 48-year-old had indicated in December he wanted to take the reins of the CBF to address a “deep crisis” the sport is facing nationally.

Rodrigues, in his role as head of football in Brazil, has been criticized for turning to interim coaches for the national team after Tite’s departure following Brazil’s quarter-final exit at the 2022 World Cup while waiting for Carlo Ancelotti to arrive.