Corinthians vice-president becomes defendant in court case

A court in São Paulo has officially named suspended Corinthians vice-president Armando Mendonca as a defendant in a criminal case. The decision was issued by the 25th Criminal Court of Barra Funda following a formal complaint filed by the Public Prosecutor's Office.

Mendonca faces accusations of aggravated misappropriation, attempted misappropriation, qualified theft by breach of trust, and coercion during the proceedings. The investigation centers on the reported disappearance of Nike sports equipment belonging to the club. Judge Amanda Eiko Sato ruled that there is sufficient evidence of both authorship and material facts to initiate formal criminal proceedings.

In a public statement, Armando Mendonca, who had already requested a leave of absence from his position on June 8, denied any wrongdoing. He described the accusations as baseless and insisted he never misappropriated any assets or sought personal benefit at the club's expense. Mendonca expressed his confidence in the judicial system and stated he would present his defense as the process unfolds.

The criminal charges follow an internal audit at Corinthians which uncovered irregularities in the distribution and management of Nike sports materials. The audit highlighted instances of withdrawals exceeding contractual quotas, poor storage conditions, and a general lack of traceability and transparency in the club's inventory operations.