Internacional football club institutional crisis

Sporting struggles and institutional instability have emerged at the Brazilian football club Internacional. Following a 3-2 defeat against Bahia that placed the team in the relegation zone, executive Fabinho Soldado addressed concerns regarding delayed salary payments, asserting that debts “have not hindered and will not hinder” performance.

However, the situation escalated following further poor results, including a loss to Santos and elimination from the Copa do Brasil by Grêmio. This led to a leadership crisis, with opposition calling for an extraordinary session of the Deliberative Council to address the “extreme gravity” of the situation. Demands have been made for the departures of executive director Fabinho Soldado and coach Eduardo Pezzolano.

Internal critics have also pointed to a lack of hierarchical leadership, noting that the position of Vice President of Football has remained vacant since the start of the year, leaving the club “without a compass” to manage the locker room.

Recent developments have intensified this turmoil. Following a 3-2 defeat to Santos that kept the team in the relegation zone, supporters staged protests at the Beira-Rio stadium and the CT Parque Gigante training center. These demonstrations demand the resignation of president Alessandro Barcellos and restructuring of the football department. Furthermore, the club’s Fiscal Council has raised concerns regarding the transparency of R$ 2.4 million in corporate card expenditures under the current administration.

In response to the administrative tension, President Barcellos reportedly threatened legal action against a journalist regarding reports on these expenditures. To address the instability, Barcellos held an urgent meeting with political opponents and potential presidential candidates to discuss the club’s financial state and the final rounds of the championship. While coach Paulo Pezzolano remains in his position for now, the club is reportedly considering names such as Lisca as potential replacements.