Brazilian Court Imposes Unique Suspension on Inter Porto Alegre Defender
In an unprecedented move, Brazil’s Superior Court of Sports Justice has suspended Víctor Gabriel, a defender for Inter Porto Alegre, until Cruzeiro forward Gabriel Pec recovers and resumes training. The decision, announced on Tuesday, reflects the serious nature of Pec’s injury, a fractured left tibia, sustained in a match on July 22.
The court determined that a conventional suspension would not suffice, opting instead for a penalty that aligns with Pec’s recovery timeline. Although Víctor Gabriel’s suspension could last up to 180 days, it may be lifted earlier if Pec is cleared to return to the field. The ruling can be contested through an appeal.
Víctor Gabriel, who expressed deep remorse over the incident, stated to the court that injuring Pec was never his intention. Pec, previously part of the LA Galaxy in the MLS, was acquired by Cruzeiro for a record fee of at least $12 million during the World Cup break.
“I’ve had sleepless nights praying for him, and I offer a heartfelt apology to everyone at Cruzeiro,” Víctor Gabriel expressed, underscoring his regret.
Charged under Article 254 of the Brazilian Code of Sports Justice for violent play, Víctor Gabriel faced an extended penalty through a provision allowing the suspension to match the injured player’s recovery period in severe cases.
Notably, the decision was not without dissent. Adjudicator Rodrigo Steinmann Bayer initially proposed a standard six-match ban, opposing the time-linked suspension. However, the majority, including court president Jorge Octavio Lavocat Galvão, Eduardo Xible Salles Ramos, and Aline Gonçalves Jatahy, voted for the extended suspension.
___ AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
