Ricardo Teixeira quits World Cup and CBF

Ricardo Teixeira quit as both the president of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) and the head of Brazil's organizing committee for the 2014 World Cup, according to CNN. Teixeira, 64, announced last week that he was taking a leave of absence for medical reasons, although his health problems were not made clear.

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The announcement of the end of Teixeira's 23-year stint as head of soccer in Brazil ended an era of continuous winning on the field and striking losses off the field, reported the Associated Press. Teixeira was accused of taking kickbacks from former FIFA marketing partner ISL in the 1990s.

"I leave the presidency of the CBF definitively with the feeling of having done my duty," Teixeira said in a written statement, according to The Guardian. "I did what was within my reach, sacrificing my health," he continued, reported Bloomberg. "I was criticized in the losses and undervalued in the victories."

Teixeira's successor has already been announced as former São Paulo governor José Maria Marin, 79, who has been acting as CBF president in his absence, according to CNN. One of Marin's first announcements was to confirm former World Cup winners Ronaldo and Bebeto would join the World Cup organizing committee.

Former Brazil soccer star Romario, now a congressman, had a few harsh words for Teixeira and his more than two-decade long reign over Brazil's passion, reported the AP. "Today we can celebrate," Romario posted on his Twitter and Facebook pages. "We exterminated a cancer from Brazilian football. Finally, Ricardo Teixeira resigned."