Sampaio Corrêa faces leadership dispute after board removal

A leadership dispute has emerged at the Brazilian football club Sampaio Corrêa following an Extraordinary General Assembly. An opposition group of members claims the assembly removed the entire executive board, led by Sergio Frota, and annulled the 2026-2029 election mandate.

In response, a new Governing Board has been formed, consisting of Klaus Lopes da Silva (President), Josué de Sousa Barreto Neto (Treasurer), and Vitor Melo Silva Santos (Secretary-General). The new leadership has notified several entities of the change, including the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), the Maranhão Football Federation (FMF), the Federal Revenue Service, and banks such as Banco do Brasil and Santander.

However, the transition faces legal challenges. While the new board asserts the change is backed by a notarized assembly minute, the club's former administration does not recognize the move and has taken the matter to court. The former president, Sergio Frota, recently sought a judicial decision to prevent the new board from inspecting the club's headquarters, though a judge denied the request to block the visit. Despite the court ruling, reports indicate the new administration faced difficulties accessing the facilities.