Armando Mendonça steps down as vice-president of Corinthians

- By Fabio Luigi / Central do Timão Editorial

On Monday night (8), Armando Mendonça formalized his removal from vice-presidency of Corinthians. The president announced the decision through a note sent to the press. In this way, institutional and administrative issues become centralized solely on President Osmar Stabile. The Timão Central report found that the manager will be away for 30 days and may return at any time.

Continue lendo

09/06/2026

US revokes World Cup tickets from Iran fans, says country's Football Federation

Fans at Tijuana International Airport, in Mexico, welcome the Iran national team upon arrival for the World Cup, on Ju...

09/06/2026

US and Israel have "differences" to resolve, Israeli ambassador tells CNN

Israel and the United States still have "some differences" to resolve over how to end the war with Iran, the Israeli a...

09/06/2026

Operation targets illegal sale of weight loss pens in Rio and SP

An operation by Decon-RJ (Consumer Police) targets a cell selling illegal weight loss pens this Tuesday morning (9) in...

Armando Mendonça, it is worth remembering, was denounced by the Public Prosecutor's Office of São Paulo for alleged crimes of qualified misappropriation, attempted misappropriation, qualified theft through abuse of trust and coercion during the process in relation to the case of diversion of sporting equipment from Nike, a partner of the club since 2003. Gaviões da Fiel, the club's main organized fan base, demonstrated last Saturday demanding Armando's departure from office.

Photo: Reproduction/Instagram

Top Cifras

Toque agora.

1 Está Em Tua Presença Cristiano Cruz

2 Revolução Marginal Mec'Roots

3 Tua Lei Banda Dort

4 Monster Paramore

A group of Corinthians advisors and associates even filed a request to remove the director from the vice-presidency, but the Court ended up suspending the disciplinary process against Armando at the club. In the statement announcing his removal from office, the vice-president states that President Osmar Stabile lacked transparency in clarifying the facts to Corinthians fans.

In addition, in the text, Armando Mendonça once again denied that he had diverted and appropriated the 131 sports materials mentioned in the Public Ministry's complaint. He also points out that 62 of these items never left Corinthians' premises and that the rest were sent, formally, to presidential employees and security guards.

The agent, in his defense, cites the dismissal of the Nike case by the Civil Police, which did not point out unauthorized conduct on his part. He also says that he was not responsible for operational control of the Parque São Jorge warehouse or stock control at Corinthians. In the manifesto, he also alleges "virtual lynching" and regrets the leak of audio recorded in the second half of 2025 that allegedly indicates an attempt to intimidate those responsible for internal auditing of the episode - check out the official note in full at the end of the article.

Finally, Armando Mendonça mentions that he pays the price for having denounced the irregularities committed by former president Augusto Melo regarding the VaideBet Case and supporting his removal while others remained silent. He ends by saying that his departure is not proof of guilt, but to preserve his family and place Corinthians above political issues and interests, highlighting that his innocence will be proven by the competent authorities.

Official note from Armando Mendonça

TO THE CORINTHIANA FANS, MEMBERS, ADVISORS AND EVERYONE WHO RESPECTS THE HISTORY OF SPORT CLUB CORINTHIANS PAULISTA

I speak out of respect for my history, my family, the advisors, the associates, the club's collaborators and, above all, the Corinthian fans. I do this with serenity, but also with the necessary firmness of someone who cannot allow their honor to be damaged by incomplete narratives, hasty and ill-intentioned accusations and interpretations that do not correspond to the truth.

I have been a lawyer for over twenty years. But, first and foremost, I am a son, brother, father, Corinthians fan and I have a history built long before any position. A story that I would never put at risk for any undue advantage.

I am very concerned to see that an accusation of this gravity, based on a work that, although technically useless, does not state that there was any misappropriation of materials by me, distributed at the end of work on a Wednesday, on the eve of a long holiday, had a concrete effect: my reputation was exposed for days to public interpretation, my family suffered all these days, while the defense, due to the very functioning of Justice, could only act properly after the regular distribution and processing of the case.

This is serious.

Not just for the personal harm, but for the method. When an accusation is circulated before the trial, a person's reputation is exposed even before they can fully exercise their defense.

Reputation is not vanity. It is moral heritage. It is what is built throughout a lifetime and must be defended with serenity, firmness and truth.

For this reason, I consider it my duty to clarify the facts, reaffirm my peace of mind and make it clear that I have never committed any illegal act against Sport Club Corinthians Paulista.

For this reason, I can say with absolute clarity: I have never diverted any material from Sport Club Corinthians Paulista.

The narrative that I appropriated 131 club materials is not true. The prosecution didn't even take care to see that of these 131 materials, 62 items didn't even leave Corinthians; 6 items were destined for President Osmar's trusted security guard, Fernando; 2 suitcases were destined for Leonardo Pantaleão. There are misconceptions that have already been explained and will continue to be clarified. The internal document produced within Corinthians does not state that I have committed diversion, appropriation or any conduct of that nature. The police investigation also did not conclude that there was any misappropriation of materials on my part.

Unfortunately, the institution, through its president, lacked firmness in clarifying this point to the fans, partners and advisors. There was a lack of will, from those who could do it, to put an end to a false, unfair and destructive narrative once and for all. An accusation like this deserves a position from the club to the entire nation and not just among members, friends and some fans.

No one who even has the slightest knowledge of my career can believe, in good faith, that I would put my life, my family, my profession, my reputation and my name at risk for club materials. Corinthians is too big to be treated lightly. And my story is too serious to be reduced to an accusation that is not true.

It is also necessary to say, with serenity and firmness, that I cannot be attributed with supposed "reckless management" over an area that was not under my direct responsibility and that was not part of my institutional responsibilities. The vice-presidency I hold should not be confused with operational warehouse management, stock control, distribution or write-off of sporting goods.

Responsibility is not assumed due to approximation, narrative convenience or the need to find a name. Liability requires fact, attribution, competence, conduct and proof.

I have always defended a professional, serious, independent and technically responsible investigation. I asked Corinthians to hire a specialized company to carry out this work. I also asked for an accounting audit. My requests were not answered by the president, who, in law and in fact, is responsible for the SCCP. Because of this, I asked on my own, through a renowned and specialized company, to analyze the work that the president asked those who did not have technical qualifications to do. The conclusion is disastrous. Enough of amateurism. Enough of treating Corinthians with so much disrespect.

I also repudiate the selective disclosure of excerpts from supposed private conversations, recorded clandestinely, which took place many months ago, in September 2025, and only now made public, without knowing their completeness, their context, their chain of custody and their technical validation. Private conversations, when recorded without knowledge of those involved, fragmented and presented in convenient sections, can serve less the truth and more the destruction of reputations.

If someone, more than eight months ago, secretly recorded a private conversation, saved this material, selected excerpts and only now brought it public, this method, in itself, reveals a lot about its real intention. Those who seek the truth seek to clarify the facts at the appropriate time. Anyone who records, saves, cuts and discloses only when it becomes politically convenient does not contribute to Justice.

Contributes to moral lynching.

I don't fear the truth. I never feared. What worries me is that this episode is no longer just about me. It came to represent a greater reflection: if honest people, qualified professionals, businesspeople, advisors and associates who wish to help Corinthians start to believe that any political divergence could result in campaigns of attrition, hasty accusations and public trials even before the production of evidence, who will continue to be willing to serve the club? The Romeos, Leonardos, Marcelos of life?

Fighting the good fight is difficult when some choose to fight in the mud. I do not subject myself to this type of dispute. I will not sink to the level of those who prefer insinuation to proof, cut to context, mud to fair debate.

In difficult times, I made difficult choices. By bringing to light the seriousness of the facts surrounding the Vai de Bet case, I know I made enemies. When I became aware of those facts, my conscience did not allow me any other path. I broke off immediately.

Each person knows the time of their decisions and the weight of their silences. It's not my place to judge anyone's conscience. But it is important to remember that not everyone took a stand at the same time. There were those who took their time, there were those who remained close and there were even those who accepted roles after serious facts were already known. Today, some talk about morality as if they had always been in the same place from the first moment.

I say this without arrogance or pretense of superiority. I just record one fact: my position was taken when it needed to be taken, not when it became convenient to take it. And I know that today I pay a dear price for that.

Politics is part of life in society and associative clubs. The problem is not with the policy itself, but with the way it is practiced. Good politics builds, brings together, dialogues and serves. Bad politics destroys, generalizes, accuses and tries to win through the moral degradation of others.

Corinthians cannot be used as a springboard for personal interests, external projects, power struggles or narratives that reduce its institutional greatness.

I never believed in individual saviors. Neither inside nor outside the club. Corinthians will not be saved by one person, one group or one narrative. The outcome for Corinthians will always be collective: directors, advisors, associates, professionals and fans working with responsibility, transparency and respect.

My fight for what I consider right will continue. I will not accept that this type of game, whose objective is to alienate people who can help Corinthians, prevails. Anyone who has a reputation to preserve has much more to lose than to gain by exposing themselves. But there are times when silence can be confused with conformity, and serenity needs to be accompanied by clarity.

I am absolutely convinced that it will be demonstrated once again that I never committed any offense against Sport Club Corinthians Paulista.

And I have, above all, the clear conscience of someone who can look at their family, their history, the advisors and the Corinthian fans and say: I would never put my name, my life and my honor at stake for any undue advantage, much less for the materials of a club that I have always tried to respect.

For consistency, out of respect for Corinthians, the Corinthians, my friends on the Board, the club's employees and my family, I inform you that I have requested my leave from the position of 2nd vice-president of Sport Club Corinthians Paulista before the internal bodies.

Not by acknowledging any guilt. Because there is no guilt to acknowledge. Not out of fear. Because I have nothing to fear. But because I believe that, at certain times, serving Corinthians means putting the club above oneself.

I have no attachment to the position. I am attached to my principles and ideals.

I owe respect to Corinthians. I owe my family protection. I owe fidelity to my conscience. And it is with her absolutely peace of mind that I move forward.

Life requires courage.

To serve Corinthians, you need to have courage. And I will not be on the side of anyone who is afraid of arapongas. To lead this nation, there is a need for firmness and conviction.

São Paulo, June 8, 2026.

Armando Mendonça

The post Armando Mendonça steps down as vice-president of Corinthians first appeared on Central do Timão.

The content Armando Mendonça steps down as vice-president of Corinthians appears first in Central do Timão.

Source: Timao Central