- Marco Polo Del Nero took charge of the Brazil Football Confederation in 2015
- The same year he was charged with money-laundering and racketeering
- FIFA have issued a 90-day ban to the 76-year-old, to begin immediately
- The global governing body claimed he will be ‘banned from all football activities’
- Brazil icon Romario wrote on Facebook: ‘My hope is that he is banned for good’
Brazilian Football Confederation president Marco Polo Del Nero has been provisionally banned for 90 days by FIFA’s ethics committee.
The ban, which begins with immediate effect, can be extended by a further 45 days while the ethics committee’s investigatory chamber carries out a formal investigation into the 76-year-old.
In a statement, FIFA said: ‘During this time, Mr Del Nero is banned from all football activities at both national and international level.
Brazil Football Confederation chief Marco Polo Del Nero has been banned for 90 days by FIFA
‘The ban comes into force immediately.’
The announcement has sparked debate among the global football community, with many speaking out about the Brazil chief.
Brazil legend and World Cup winner Romario voiced his opinions about the national football Del Nero, and it was far from positive.
‘As many Brazilians that love soccer, my hope is that he is banned for good,’ he wrote on his Facebook page.
‘Del Nero has already had his crimes exposed along those of other crooks like Jose Maria Marin, who is in jail in the United States, and (former CBF president) Ricardo Teixeira who is still on the loose in Brazil. They all used CBF to get illegally rich.’
FIFA issued the provisional ban, which is effective immediately, after a US investigation
A lawyer by trade, Polo Del Nero has been the head of Brazilian football since the start of 2015 despite being charged by the American authorities with money-laundering and racketeering later the same year.
He fled Zurich in May 2015 when dozens of football officials were arrested by Swiss police as part of the United States-led investigation into corruption.
As a result, he later resigned from his position on FIFA’s executive committee in November 2015.
In order to avoid arrest and probable extradition to the US, Del Nero has not left Brazil since May this year and has therefore not represented the CBF at several South American football confederation and FIFA meetings.
Brazil legend Romario wrote on Facebook that he hopes the boss is banned for good