[2][3][4] However, the team had a sharp drop in yeld from May, causing them to fight against relegation since the early rounds of the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A.

On 26 May, corruption and mismanagement scandals involving the Cruzeiro's board were revealed by the Rede Globo program Fantástico,[5] causing huge repercussions inside and outside the club.

Police investigations,[6] financial difficulties[7] and political unstability[8] would be a constant throughout the year at Cruzeiro, leading to a devastating crisis that ended up affecting the team's performance on the pitch.

[9] On 7 August, following a run of bad results – having the team won just 1 of 18 matches –, Cruzeiro announced the departure of manager Mano Menezes,[10] ending a more than three years spell in the club.

In financial, technical and political collapse, Cruzeiro were relegated to Campeonato Brasileiro Série B for the first time in their history on 8 December, after a 2–0 loss to Palmeiras at Mineirão.