Gigi Becali announced the boycott! He jumps on Burleanu's neck, urgently demands the modification of the regulation and threatens with TAS

Article by Maria Olteanu – Published Tuesday, March 17, 2026, 1:44 p.m. / Updated Tuesday, March 17, 2026, 1:48 p.m.
Gigi Becali (67 years old), the owner of the FCSBspoke about the elections from the Romanian Football Federation, scheduled for Wednesday, March 18, at Casa Fotbalului, starting at 11:00. He announces that no one from his club will go to the vote, as a form of protest against the U21 rule. Later, he gave a speech-manifesto to the current president, Răzvan Burleanu.
An old opponent of the rule by which all Superliga teams are obliged to use an U21 player during a game, Becali resumed the subject less than 24 hours before the FRF elections, where Burleanu will run for the fourth term.
Although he starts with the first chance in the elections where he will have an opponent Ilie DraganBurleanu could have problems at the TAS, after being challenged by Drăgan, who accuses that the current head is no longer allowed to run for another mandate, which would be fourth.
Gigi Becali announces the boycott of the FRF elections: “If he promises to remove the rule, Meme will go to the polls tomorrow”
After showing his indifference to the elections to be held on Wednesday, Becali said what his grievances are with Burleanu, who has been leading the FRF's destinies since 2012, insisting especially on the U21 rule.
“I'm not interested in Burleanu. I have no business with them. I understood that someone complained to TAS. When you say three mandates in the law and you are in mandate, that is considered a mandate. If there were three votes, and you are in mandate and you served three days of mandate, it is considered mandate.
They have no idea about laws. It is 500% at risk with reporting to TAS. If they elect him tomorrow, it is considered an illegal mandate.
If the vote was taken after his mandate expired or he resigned 2-3 days before, and then a General Assembly was held and they voted, yes, but that's how you are in the mandate. How not to put it, crazy? You are in it. I have nothing to do with Burleanu. My only problem is that it doesn't give us the 5+6 money. I told Mihai to sue them, to give us the money. My only issue with Burleanu is with the U21 rule and refereeing.
The problem is with U21, that they are mastering us. We vote for you, and instead of listening to your complaints, I force you to do what I want. It is against every democratic law. I am voting for an administrator to administer against my will”said Gigi Becali, the day before the elections, quoted by fanatik.ro.
Ilie Drăgan is Răzvan Burleanu's opponent in the FRF elections
Becali, before the elections: “I don't even pay attention to you, dwarf”
“Nobody even goes to vote from us. He has no right, he served three terms. I'm not sending anyone, it's not legal. It's about principles. How many mandates do you do, me? Are you Ceaușescu, right? Five more mandates. You are a young boy, you say you are a smart boy, go to another activity.
Let's see how smart you are. That's how easy it is to frame Vassaras, that he has connections at FIFA. Did I say he didn't do good things? If he waives the rule, then let him be president. If we remove the rule, Meme goes to vote on it tomorrow.
These are too dwarfed by me to care. As long as there is dictatorship and tyranny, there is no man before me. If I see that he listens to me and becomes a man, I invest millions in Romanian football. If not, you're a midget. I don't even notice you, dwarf. If he comes to his senses and listens to our grievances, not to force us to put in an U21 player, we vote for him. How can you force me, you fool?
Do you have something on your mind? If he promises to remove the rule, Meme goes to the vote tomorrow. If Gica goes to the national team, we all love Burleanu, but remove the U21 rule, otherwise I'm not interested. If he doesn't remove the U21 rule, I'm also going to TAS to challenge him. How do they vote for it, how do I go to TAS to challenge it“, continued Becali.
Why did Drăgan go to TAS to claim Burleanu
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Drăgan accuses the incumbent president of violating article 50.1 of the Federation Statute and that Burleanu would not have the right to run again for the most coveted position in Romanian football.
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The said article provides that “no person can hold the position of president of the FRF for more than 3 (three) mandates”. And the current president run for the 4thafter those of 2014/2018, 2018/2022 and 2022/2026. The General Assembly of the Federation will also take place on Wednesday.
Răzvan Burleanu has been the president of the Romanian Football Federation since 2014 / photo: Imago Images




