Fernando Sarney

Fernando José Macieira Ferreira Araújo da Costa Sarney (born 7 January 1956) is a Brazilian media mogul and sports executive.^[2][3] The eldest son of former Brazilian President José Sarney,^[4] he inherited both the family name and its decades-long dominance over Maranhão state's political and economic spheres. As owner of Mirante Communications Group – controlling television networks, radio stations, and digital platforms in Maranhão – he became a key regional power broker with national influence.

Fernando Sarney
Sarney in 2019
Born	Fernando José Macieira Ferreira Araújo da Costa Sarney (1956-01-07) 7 January 1956 (age 69)[1] São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil
Occupation(s)	Member, FIFA Council
Spouse	Teresa Sarney
Children	3
Parent(s)	José Sarney Marly Sarney

A civil engineering graduate from the University of São Paulo (USP), Fernando Sarney's career blends business, politics, and controversy. He received Portugal's Order of Prince Henry (1987) and has been a FIFA Council member since 2015.^[4] In May 2025, he was appointed interim president of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) by court order following the removal of Ednaldo Rodrigues over alleged governance irregularities.^[2][5]

His rise has been shadowed by legal controversies, including money laundering and tax evasion investigations (Operation Faktor, 2006-2010).^[3][6][7][8] In 2009, Sarney won a court injunction, preventing the newspaper O Estado de São Paulo from publishing "his indictment on corruption charges".^[9] The newspaper published an article linking Sarney to a political scandal, Senate Secret Acts.^[10] Critics accuse him of leveraging media power and political connections to influence judicial and electoral processes. His CBF appointment reignited debates about elite capture of Brazilian institutions and political interference in football governance.^[5]