Brazilian media outlet Leo Dias says Samir Xaud, president of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), used federation money to finance international flights, luxury hotels, and travel for women with no official role. Xaud, 42, took office in May 2025 and is responsible in part for appointing Carlo Ancelotti as national team coach. The report, backed by documents, says the spending pattern began after he assumed office and involved women who were likely his mistresses.
The main case involves a trip to the United States. Xaud’s guest, fitness entrepreneur Camila Cristina Andrad from Roraima, stayed at the Hyatt Regency Grand Central in New York from June 2 to 10 at a cost of 59,424 reais, about $11,000. On June 3, Xaud and Andrad were seen dining at the upscale Harry Cipriani in Manhattan, and they reportedly left in a rented armored car paid for by the CBF. The report says Xaud then returned to Brazil to watch Brazil’s women play the United States in Fortaleza, before flying to Mexico City for the World Cup opening period and meeting his wife of 20 years, Natalia Lopes Xaud, at official events on June 20.
The investigation says this was not an isolated case. It also cites influencer and pharmacist Tamiris Fernandes Barselos, who flew from Rio de Janeiro to Doha for the Intercontinental Cup final. Her business-class tickets, luxury stay at the Ritz-Carlton, and VIP stadium access reportedly cost the federation more than 17,000 reais.
Beyond the money, the leak describes a troubling culture inside the CBF. Internal sources say Xaud boasts during professional dinners about his extramarital conquests using football terms, calling it “scoring.” Senior figures in the organization were reportedly disturbed by remarks he made about current and former female players, including offensive and inappropriate comments about their sexual orientation. Xaud had won the presidency unopposed after the controversial removal of predecessor Ednaldo Rodrigues, campaigning on “Football for all: transparency, inclusion and modernization” and promising to fight entrenched corruption and improve women’s football. The leaked receipts and hotel bookings appear to contradict that pledge and have sparked an institutional backlash.
The CBF immediately denied the corruption allegations in a public statement, trying to separate institutional spending from Xaud’s private life. But after learning the investigation had obtained the receipts, Xaud reportedly tried to retroactively justify the expenses by presenting a personal bank statement showing he had transferred money to cover the New York hotel and related luxury costs. His allies argue that even if the reservations were initially made through company accounts or travel agents for convenience, he ultimately paid personally and therefore did not embezzle funds.
