LANDIM'S LAST YEAR AS PRESIDENT OF FLAMENGO! SEE THE DIRECTOR’S MAIN CONTROVERSES

January 1st marked five years of Rodolfo Landim as president of Flamengo and the beginning of the last year of his term. The club had a great financial leap and achievements on the field during the five years with the president, but the management also accumulated controversial decisions and criticism from the fans.

After starting his first term with the historic year of 2019, Landim was unable to maintain his approval from the majority of the fans. The president makes controversial decisions, especially in his relationship with his own fans and in the management of football. Thus, it is no longer unanimous and begins its last year as the target of much criticism.

Landim is not only criticized for football results, but also for his relationship with idols and Flamengo's history. This Tuesday (2), the president did not attend the wake of the historic masseur and club idol Denir, in Gávea. The decision generated revolt among red and black people on social media, who pointed out that it was the president's obligation to be present.

Other decisions have also generated a lot of controversy since Rodolfo Landim took over the club. See the main ones:

Limitation of Off-Rio partners

One of the biggest controversies of Rodolfo Landim's mandate is Flamengo's relationship with its Off-Rio partners. In 2020, during the pandemic and Covid-19, the club increased the monthly fee for the category by 165%. The value went from R$64 to R$170 and it is estimated that 50% of members left the program.

Subsequently, in May 2023, the Club's Deliberative Council decided to maintain the limit of one thousand members for the category and generated outrage among fans. After all, Rubro-Negro is the club with the biggest fans in the country precisely because it is national and has a large number of fans in all regions of Brazil.

However, Landim was one of those who spoke in favor of the limitation and promised an amendment so that the topic would not be debated again. Vice-president general and possible candidate for president at the end of 2024, Rodrigo Dunshee followed the president's speeches.

Flamengo also released an official statement shortly after the negative repercussion to state that Off-Rio are “more How welcome.” However, he defends that there should be a maximum of 20% of the staff and members and suggests that fans choose other categories of members if the limit is reached.

To be Off-Rio do Flamengo, the red-black team needs be at least 18 years old and live more than 100 km away from the city limits of Rio de Janeiro. The plan has a lower monthly fee and provides practically the same benefits as a contributing member.

But it is worth mentioning that the club does not accept absentee votes in its elections. In other words, fans need to travel to the city to take advantage of most of the benefits received under the Off-Rio plan, which also include access to the headquarters.

Persecution of members

Management de Rodolfo Landim made controversial decisions not only with the Off-Rio partners. At the end of 2023, club member and journalist Túlio Rodrigues was punished for offending an ally of the president. He was suspended from the club for 60 days, in addition to losing the right to participate in the next election.

Túlio called the president of Flamengo's Deliberative Council, Antônio Alcides, elected with Landim's support, “lax” . This is because he accepted that the club would launch a version of the number three shirt different from the one approved by the Council in 2022. In the end, the Manto returned to the vote and did not even debut in the year.

The club also punished YouTuber Rafael Cotta. After filming the president's embarrassed reaction during boos at Maracanã, he was banned by the club from attending the Maracanã Mais sector at Mais Querido games.

Political approaches

Landim maintains many relationships many relationships policies as president of Flamengo. During his management, the club granted honorary membership titles to names in Brazilian politics. In the most recent session, the titles were:

Arthur Lira, president of the Chamber of Deputies

Luís Roberto Barroso, president of the Federal Supreme Court

Otávio Henrique Menezes de Noronha, president of the STJD

Daniela Rodrigues Teixeira, minister of the STJ

According to Flamengo's statute, an honorary member is someone who has provided services to Flamengo or national sport. But the club did not make official the reason for awarding them with the honorary title.

The most controversial honor was in 2020, when the list of honorees included close advisors to then-president Jair Bolsonaro, including lieutenant -Colonel Mauro Cid. He is the author of a plea bargain that admits participation in crimes and names the former president.

Honorary members receive the right to use Flamengo's facilities. On the other hand, he is prohibited from participating in elections as a candidate or voter.

Landim defends the creation of SAF at Flamengo

Many Brazilian clubs have become Sociedade Anônima de Futebol (SAF) in recent years years to escape debt. Flamengo, however, has the best financial health in the country and does not need to sell to keep its accounts up to date and make large investments. But Landim remains an enthusiast for creating a SAF.

The president went on to link the creation of a company with the feasibility of building a stadium. Opposition members, on the other hand, believe that the club has the financial conditions to build with its own resources. Thus, Landim's attempt would be a maneuver to perpetuate himself in command of the club.

The red-and-black president's idea is to sell only part of the football, something similar to Bayern Munich and Fortaleza. The decision would separate football from the social club, which would allow the president to remain in charge despite the last term provided for in the statute. In a recent interview, he admitted the possibility of having a position in the SAF.

“It will depend on the governance rules. Flamengo's members may prefer that the president holds the position and presides over the SAF. Or that it helps to appoint, for example, a professional selected in the market for the role. The decision would be up to the partners”, he stated.

Conducting football

Flamengo has won a total of 11 titles so far under Landim’s management: two Libertadores, two Brazilians, two Super Cups , Recopa, Copa do Brasil and three Cariocas. However, the president's decisions fueled fan dissatisfaction over the years, and he ended 2023 as the main target of fans' criticism for the terrible season.

Since the departure of Jorge Jesus, coach in five of the 11 management titles, Flamengo has already hired eight different coaches. Despite winning all the important titles during the period, the board was marked by poor planning in practically every year and the need for changes during the season.