Historic sanction in Brazil: until the rival recovers
The Superior Court of Sports Justice (STJD) of Brazil this Tuesday disqualified the defender of the Inter Porto Alegre Victor Gabriel until the front of the Cruzeiro Gabriel Pec go back to training. It is the sanction that he must serve for his harsh tackle during a match.
The resolution was issued by the Sixth Disciplinary Commission of the court, after analyzing the action that occurred 13 minutes into the second half of the match between Inter and Cruzeiro last Wednesday, on the nineteenth round of the Brazilian Championship, which ended 1-2 in favor of Cruzeiro.
In that play Victor Gabriel was sent off with a direct red card for using excessive force when challenging for the ball.
Although Gabriel Pec was initially removed from the field with a cut on his leg, subsequent medical examinations confirmed a fracture in his left tibia for which he had to undergo surgery last Saturday.
Three months maximum sanction
The members of the court considered that the usual sanction for violent play, which ranges from one to six games of suspension, was insufficient given the magnitude of the injury.
Since the attacker was unable to compete due to the blow, the judges opted to apply the extended measure that keeps the offender disabled until the victim is discharged to train, with a maximum limit of 180 days.
Following the court decision, Victor Gabriel will be able to play matches again once the medical team confirms that Gabriel Pec has returned to his team’s usual practices, which is estimated to be in three or four months.
During the hearing held this Tuesday, Victor Gabriel tearfully told the members of the court that he had “nono intention” of hurting his rival and that the last few days he has dedicated himself to praying for him.
“I spend sleepless nights praying for him. I apologize with all my heart to all the people of Cruzeiro,” declared Victor Gabriel.
Injured in his debut
Pec was announced as Cruzeiro’s new signing from the LA Galaxy on July 7 and the game in which he suffered the fracture represented his debut as a starter for the team.
The decision also deals a hard blow to Internacional, which loses an established starter at a critical moment in the season.
The Porto Alegre team is going through a delicate sporting situation, as it is in sixteenth position in the Brazilian Championship, on the edge of the relegation zone, and has accumulated four consecutive defeats.
