"The Brazilian Press Association – ABI (for its initials in Portuguese) vehemently repudiates ESPN's absurd decision to suspend journalists Dimas Coppede, Gian Oddi, Paulo Calçade, Pedro Ivo Almeida, Victor Birner and William Tavares for having criticized the Brazilian Football Confederation – CBF, on the program Linha de Passe, on Monday, April 7, when commenting on a report in the magazine Piauí, entitled The endless extravagances of the CBF, in which the management of president Ednaldo Rodrigues is described as responsible for 'inflated salaries, perks and million-dollar debt'….
ESPN's attitude is a direct attack on freedom of the press and expression, on the free exercise of the profession and on the right to information, in addition to representing an unacceptable submission to pressure from the CBF and the famous and usual calls for the resignation of journalists who dare to criticize and go against the interests of the powerful owners of Brazilian football."
