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São Paulo’s Deliberative Council has called off the meeting scheduled for Tuesday at the club’s social headquarters, which was set to vote on suspending Olten Ayres from his role as president of the body. The decision came after council members filed a request for a “statutory and regulatory doubt clarification,” challenging the interpretation used for the meeting’s convening.
The extraordinary session will now be submitted for legal review, with no new date set for rescheduling. The core objection raised by council members is that the call for the meeting was based on Article 36 of the club’s bylaws, which deals with preventive removal from the membership body. However, the extraordinary meeting was intended to vote on a recommendation from the Ethics Committee proposing Ayres’ removal from the presidency of the Deliberative Council—not from the club’s membership roster. Consequently, the request argues that the disciplinary procedure should follow the process outlined in Article 112, which establishes a different voting structure.
“A mistaken definition of the statutory procedure directly affects the legitimacy of the convening and compromises the legal certainty of any deliberation that may result. Furthermore, the notice does not adequately define the subject matter to be submitted for the Deliberative Council’s vote, merely referring generically to the approval or rejection of the ‘Ethics Committee’s opinion,'” reads an excerpt from the document.
Facing the risk of holding a vote that could later be challenged, the Deliberative Council, through vice-president João Farias, issued an official notice canceling the event. Depending on the legal opinion, the Council may reschedule the meeting with a new statutory framework, maintain the original interpretation used in the convening, or even revise part of the precautionary measure suggested by the Ethics Committee.
On April 23, club president Harry Massis filed a request to expel Olten Ayres from the membership body, citing alleged reckless management of the Deliberative Council. The main argument centered on the establishment of a Statutory Reform Committee, which among other topics would discuss alternatives for São Paulo to become a SAF (Sociedade Anônima do Futebol). Massis claims the measure violated the bylaws by addressing a subject similar to one previously rejected, while also questioning the decision being made after review by the Legislative Commission.
Days later, the Ethics Committee partially accepted the request and recommended Ayres’ preventive removal from the Deliberative Council presidency, but without calling for his expulsion from the membership body. Behind the scenes at the club, Ayres is seen as a longtime ally of Julio Casares. Publicly, however, the Deliberative Council president denies any favoritism toward the former director or close ties with him in the club’s daily affairs.
In parallel to the political dispute, the Civil Police have opened an investigation into possible ideological falsehood involving Olten Ayres. The probe aims to clarify whether a document dated December 17, 2025, signed by council members José Eduardo Mesquita Pimenta and Ives Granda, was delivered already prepared by Ayres himself merely for signature collection.
Contacted by ge’s reporting team, Ayres’ defense rejected the allegations and stated they are available for clarification with the competent authorities.