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| José Maria Marin | |
|---|---|
| Name | José Maria Marin |
| Birth date | 6 May 1932 |
| Birth place | Santo Amaro, São Paulo |
| Nationality | Brazil |
| Occupation | Politician; football administrator |
| Office | Governor of São Paulo |
| Party | PMDB |
José Maria Marin (born 6 May 1932) is a Brazilian former politician and football administrator who served as acting Governor of São Paulo and later as President of the Brazilian Football Confederation. He is notable for his roles in Brazilian politics during the late 20th century and in CONMEBOL-related administration, and for his arrest in a transnational corruption investigation. Marin's career intersects with major institutions such as the National Congress of Brazil, FIFA, CONMEBOL, and regional political networks in São Paulo.
Marin was born in Santo Amaro, São Paulo to a family of Portuguese descent. He studied at local institutions in São Paulo and became involved in sports as a football player and coach before transitioning into public service and business. His educational background connected him to civic organizations and municipal structures in São Paulo that later supported his entry into the Legislative Assembly of São Paulo and municipal administration. During the period of the military regime he consolidated networks with politicians linked to state-level institutions and PMDB circles.
Marin was elected to the Legislative Assembly of São Paulo and later served as Vice-Mayor and Mayor in municipal government of São Paulo. He held a seat in the Chamber of Deputies and was active in the Paulista political landscape. Marin became Vice-Governor and then Acting Governor of São Paulo following the resignation of his predecessor, engaging with state agencies, infrastructure projects, and public administration reforms. His tenure intersected with other notable figures such as Mário Covas, Franco Montoro, Luiz Antônio Fleury Filho, and parties including PMDB and PSDB affiliates. Marin's political networks extended into labor, business, and sports circles, which influenced appointments to state boards and municipal committees.
After political office, Marin transitioned to football administration, holding positions in the Federação Paulista de Futebol, the Brazilian Football Confederation, and representing Brazil in CONMEBOL bodies. He served as President of the Brazilian Football Confederation during a period marked by commercial expansion, media contracts with broadcasters such as Rede Globo, and preparations for international competitions involving the Brazil national football team and domestic tournaments like the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A and the Copa do Brasil. Marin participated in regional meetings with officials from CONMEBOL and CONCACAF and engaged with FIFA executives on matters of international calendar coordination and club competitions. His administrative role put him in contact with club presidents from Corinthians, Palmeiras, Santos FC, and São Paulo FC as well as with commercial partners and marketing agencies linked to major tournaments like the FIFA World Cup.
Marin's name became prominent in international investigations into football corruption led by the United States Department of Justice, the FBI, and Swiss authorities targeting high-ranking officials in FIFA and CONMEBOL. He was arrested in Zurich and extradited to the United States as part of the 2015 probes into bribery, racketeering, and money laundering allegations involving media and marketing rights for tournaments including the Copa Libertadores, Copa América, and FIFA competitions. The investigation named numerous executives from companies such as Traffic Sports, TyC Sports, Globo, and executives linked to Sepp Blatter-era networks. Marin was tried in a United States District Court and convicted on charges related to accepting bribes and illicit payments tied to broadcasting and sponsorship deals. He received a sentencing decision from the court and faced disciplinary measures from FIFA ethics bodies and football confederations; his case contributed to broader reforms and high-profile indictments of figures like Jeffrey Webb, Eduardo Li, Nicolas Leoz, and corporate executives implicated by the DOJ.
Marin has been a controversial figure in Brazilian public life, leaving a complex legacy that spans municipal governance in São Paulo, state-level leadership, and international football administration. His career is referenced in discussions about institutional reform within FIFA and CONMEBOL and in analyses of transnational corruption involving media rights and sports governance. He is connected by association to political contemporaries such as Paulo Maluf, José Serra, Aécio Neves, and sports administrators across South America and Europe. Marin's life continues to be cited in media coverage, academic studies on sports law, and reform initiatives tied to FIFA Ethics Committee proceedings.
Category:1932 births Category:Living people Category:Brazilian politicians Category:Brazilian football administrators Category:People from São Paulo