Internacional faces leadership crisis amid relegation threat

Internacional is facing a significant internal crisis following a string of poor results, including a 3-2 loss to Santos that leaves the club in the relegation zone. The team's recent struggles are compounded by an elimination from the Copa do Brasil by Grêmio.

Club opposition, led by counselor Leonardo Aquino, has requested an extraordinary session of the Deliberative Council to address the “extreme gravity” of the sporting situation. The opposition is demanding the departures of executive director Fabinho Soldado and coach Eduardo Pezzolano, arguing that the council must stop being a “mere spectator” to the crisis.

Adding to the institutional instability, former director Luiz Fernando Zachia has highlighted the absence of a political Vice President of Football, a position vacant since José Olavo Bisol's resignation at the start of the year. Zachia argued that the lack of a clear hierarchical leader in the football department has left the club “without a compass,” making it difficult to manage the locker room and maintain discipline during the current slump.