Corinthians Deliberative Council Closes Candidacy Deadline for November Election
The deadline for submitting objections to candidacies for the Corinthians board of directors and Deliberative Council for the 2027–2029 triennium closed. Deliberative Council President Romeu Tuma Júnior published the official communication on Wednesday, setting the stage for the vote scheduled for November 28 at Parque São Jorge, the club’s social headquarters.
As the election approaches, voters and officials remain divided over candidate eligibility disputes. The “Corinthians de Verdade” ticket, numbered 05, filed a request for reconsideration after the Electoral Commission rejected its registration. Sergio Janikian heads that slate as the presidential candidate, joined by Antonio Jorge Rachid Junior as first vice-president and Simone Martins dos Anjos as second vice-president.
Sergio Janikian Fights Disqualification Over Tax Conviction
The Electoral Commission barred Janikian, a former football director who held the role in 2015 under then-president Roberto de Andrade, because of a second-instance conviction for a tax order crime, UOL reported. The commission based its decision on the General Sports Law, which applies electoral ineligibility criteria to sports organization leaders.
However, legal documentation obtained by UOL reveals that the Santa Catarina Court of Justice annulled the ruling that had convicted Janikian. Rádio Itatiaia reported that lawyer Ricardo Porto presented the defense at Parque São Jorge on Tuesday, arguing that the underlying conviction no longer exists.
Janikian expressed frustration with the timing of the club’s announcement. “They made this impugnation in a bizarre way,” Janikian told Rádio Itatiaia. “They published the decision about my impugnation on Friday, the eve of a holiday. I was bleeding in public square, not knowing why, what led this Commission of brilliant rapporteurs to make this decision right on the eve of a holiday.”
Defenses, Reconsiderations, and Legal Threats
Representatives of challenged tickets have a strict 24-hour window to present defenses against objections raised by club associates. Once those filings arrive, Romeu Tuma Júnior will review and decide each case. Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission is handling requests to reconsider rejected registrations in accordance with club statutes and electoral rules.
If the commission reverses any disqualification, associates will gain a fresh 24-hour window to challenge those restored candidacies. Should the commission uphold the rejections, the registration phase concludes within the Deliberative Council. Associates wishing to inspect the electoral files must schedule appointments through the Deliberative Council Secretariat.
Janikian remains confident the commission will accept his appeal, but he warned that he is prepared to take the matter to civil court if delays persist. “We entered the defense on Tuesday and now they are going to analyze the case at an ‘absurd’ speed to make a decision,” Janikian told Rádio Itatiaia. “I understand they will reverse this and accept my appeal. But I do not rule out, given the delay, seeking support in Justice. Even a popcorn vendor at the courthouse door can get an injunction, the decision is so absurd.”
Frequently Asked Questions About the Corinthians Election
When and where will the Corinthians election take place?
The vote is scheduled for November 28 at Parque São Jorge, the social headquarters of the club, to determine leadership for the 2027–2029 triennium.
Why was Sergio Janikian’s candidacy initially rejected?
The Electoral Commission barred his registration based on a second-instance tax conviction, interpreting the General Sports Law as a bar to holding office, though Janikian’s legal team later presented an annulment of that conviction from the Santa Catarina Court of Justice.
Who decides the outcome of the pending appeals and objections?
Deliberative Council President Romeu Tuma Júnior evaluates defenses against candidate objections, while the Electoral Commission handles requests to reconsider rejected registrations under the club’s statutes.
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