Corinthians to Vote on Augusto Melo’s Impeachment over VaideBet Case
Brazil – May 15, 2025 – [www.zonadeazar.com] The Corinthians Deliberative Council has scheduled the impeachment vote for President Augusto Melo on May 26. Romeu Tuma Júnior, head of the council, issued the call to resume the previously suspended process.
The vote was initially postponed on January 20 due to lack of time. The admissibility of the impeachment had passed by a narrow margin of 126 to 114 votes, but the effective removal has not yet been voted on.
This development unfolds amid investigations involving VaideBet, the club’s sponsor at the beginning of Augusto Melo’s term. Furthermore, the rejection of the 2024 accounts and the resignation of close directors have intensified pressure on the president.
Investigation Involving Corinthians and VaideBet
Last year, the press revealed irregularities in the deal between Corinthians and VaideBet, prompting an investigation by São Paulo’s Civil Police. In March 2024, Corinthians deposited R$ 700,000 into accounts of two companies.
One company, Rede Social Media Design Ltda, the intermediary for the VaideBet sponsorship, is owned by Alex Cassundé. Documents listed Edna Oliveira dos Santos as a partner, but she had no connection with Cassundé. When questioned, Edna revealed she lived in Peruíbe and relied on the Bolsa Família program for support.
After June of last year, VaideBet terminated its contract with Corinthians through an anti-corruption clause. Since then, the Civil Police has continued to investigate the club’s partnership with the betting company.
Meeting Procedure
On May 26, before the vote, both the president of the Ethics and Disciplinary Committee and Augusto Melo (or his defender) will have 30 minutes to speak. The council members will vote on the removal in a secret ballot using paper slips.
Other Ongoing Proceedings
Augusto Melo is currently facing four impeachment proceedings. The most recent is supported by the Justice Committee and signed by Leonardo Pantaleão, former legal director. This proceeding invokes the General Sports Law to demand the president’s immediate removal due to reckless management.
The Justice Committee bases its request on technical opinions from the Fiscal Council and CORI, which identified irregularities in 2024’s management. During that period, Augusto Melo’s financial statement showed a deficit of R$ 181 million, with total liabilities of R$ 829 million, including R$ 407 million in receivables.
Before this, Melo faced three impeachment proceedings: one backed by over 90 signatures, one recommended by CORI, and another filed by councilman Paulo Roberto Bastos Pedro.
Edited by: @_fonta
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