Fernando Sarney
Fernando Sarney | |
|---|---|
_(cropped_2).jpg) Sarney in 2019 | |
| Born | Fernando José Macieira Ferreira Araújo da Costa Sarney 7 January 1956[1] São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil |
| Occupation(s) | Member, FIFA Council |
| Spouse | Teresa Sarney |
| Children | 3 |
| Parent(s) | José Sarney Marly Sarney |
Fernando José Macieira Ferreira Araújo da Costa Sarney (born 7 January 1956) is a Brazilian media mogul and sports executive.[2][3] The eldest son of former Brazilian President José Sarney,[4] he inherited both the family name and its decades-long dominance over Maranhão state's political and economic spheres. As owner of Mirante Communications Group – controlling television networks, radio stations, and digital platforms in Maranhão – he became a key regional power broker with national influence.
A civil engineering graduate from the University of São Paulo (USP), Fernando Sarney's career blends business, politics, and controversy. He received Portugal's Order of Prince Henry (1987) and has been a FIFA Council member since 2015.[4] In May 2025, he was appointed interim president of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) by court order following the removal of Ednaldo Rodrigues over alleged governance irregularities.[2][5]
His rise has been shadowed by legal controversies, including money laundering and tax evasion investigations (Operation Faktor, 2006-2010).[3][6][7][8] In 2009, Sarney won a court injunction, preventing the newspaper O Estado de São Paulo from publishing "his indictment on corruption charges".[9] The newspaper published an article linking Sarney to a political scandal, Senate Secret Acts.[10] Critics accuse him of leveraging media power and political connections to influence judicial and electoral processes. His CBF appointment reignited debates about elite capture of Brazilian institutions and political interference in football governance.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ "FIFA Council Members". www.fifa.com. Archived from the original on 11 August 2020.
- ^ a b Cleverton Silva (15 May 2025). "Saiba quem é Fernando Sarney, presidente interino da CBF". Metópoles (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 15 May 2025.
- ^ a b "Entenda as denúncias contra Fernando Sarney" [Understanding the accusations against Fernando Sarney]. Folha de S.Paulo (in Portuguese). 25 March 2010. Retrieved 25 March 2010.
- ^ a b "Brazil's FA president resigns post on Fifa's executive committee | Football". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
- ^ a b Mazza, Luigi (15 May 2025). "Por que Ednaldo Rodrigues caiu – de novo" [Why Ednaldo Rodrigues was ousted from CBF presidency – again]. Revista Piauí (in Portuguese). Retrieved 15 May 2025.
- ^ "Governo acha dinheiro de filho de Sarney no exterior" [Government finds Sarney's son's money abroad]. Folha de S.Paulo (in Portuguese). 7 March 2010. Retrieved 25 March 2010.
- ^ "Suíça bloqueia conta de filho de Sarney" [Switzerland freezes Sarney's son's account]. Folha de S.Paulo (in Portuguese). 25 March 2010. Retrieved 25 March 2010.
- ^ "Polícia Federal indicia Fernando Sarney pelo crime de evasão de divisas" [Federal Police indicts Fernando Sarney for currency evasion]. O Estado de S. Paulo (in Portuguese). 7 May 2010. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
- ^ David Hills (14 September 2015). "Said & Done: Transparency; Colwyn Bay; and a big week for Jesus | Football". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
- ^ "Global Freedom of Expression | Sarney v. O Estado de São Paulo - Global Freedom of Expression". Globalfreedomofexpression.columbia.edu. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
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