Red card wasn’t enough: Brazil court hands footballer unprecedented ban over horror tackle

Bharatmorningnews.com –

Red Card Wasn T Enough: Brazil Court Issues Unprecedented Ban

Red card wasn t enough to settle the matter. Brazil’s sports tribunal has handed Internacional defender Victor Gabriel an unprecedented suspension following a horrific tackle that left Cruzeiro striker Gabriel Pec with a broken leg. The disciplinary body ruled that a standard red card penalty failed to adequately address the severity of the incident during their Serie A encounter.

A Debut Turned Into a Nightmare

The collision occurred while Pec was making his competitive debut for Cruzeiro after joining from Major League Soccer’s LA Galaxy. The reckless challenge from Gabriel resulted in a fractured left tibia for the young striker, ending his first match for the Brazilian side prematurely. Despite the injury, Pec’s new team managed to secure a victory in the fixture.

The Superior Court of Sports Justice (STJD) determined that conventional match bans were insufficient for such a serious offense. Instead of prescribing a fixed number of games, the tribunal ordered a suspension that extends until Pec resumes training activities. Medical experts estimate this recovery period will last approximately six months, with the court setting an absolute maximum ceiling of 180 days for the penalty.

“The offender may remain suspended until the injured party is able to return to training, respecting a maximum period of 180 days,” the court stated, noting that the decision remains subject to appeal.

Victor Gabriel Responds and Court Proceedings Continue

Following the incident, Gabriel expressed sincere remorse toward his opponent. His public statement reflected genuine contrition for what he described as an accidental foul during the intense match.

“I apologised to him and offered my help. I asked him to forgive me because I had no ill intent, and all I could do at that moment was pray for him.”

The disciplinary hearing encountered an unexpected complication when the sports court raised concerns about evidence presented by Internacional. The club’s legal representatives initially submitted audio recordings supposedly captured from the match’s VAR communications system. However, after doubts emerged regarding the recording’s authenticity, Internacional requested that the material be excluded from consideration.

Internacional addressed the situation through an official statement on their website, explaining that their legal counsel had utilized a social media audio clip in their defense strategy.

“Both the law firm and Internacional emphasise that they never intended to act in bad faith in any way within the context of the proceedings in question,” the club clarified.

“There was, however, a recognised error in the collection and use of the content presented in the player’s defence, which was immediately acknowledged through an express request to remove the audio from the case file.”

About the Author

Aratrick Mondal serves as a senior sports journalist headquartered in New Delhi. With eight years of experience covering athletic events, he has contributed to prominent outlets including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV, and currently holds a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. His reporting encompasses cricket, football, tennis, and pickleball.

Mondal has documented India’s growing interest in private sporting leagues such as the Indian Pickleball League, Ultimate Kho Kho League, and Rugby Premier League. His coverage of the SA20 cricket league’s innovative fan engagement strategies received widespread international recognition. Known for his analytical approach to tennis journalism, he examines Grand Slam narratives, player development, and ranking patterns through detailed features.

His work incorporates data visualization tools including Python, Tableau, and Excel to create compelling, evidence-based stories. In editorial leadership positions, he has managed content strategy, SEO optimization, and team mentorship. Mondal recently received the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of the 2025-26 financial year, recognizing his contributions to digital sports journalism.