TAD lifts one-match ban for Sporting player | OneFootball

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAD) annulled the one-match suspension penalty for Geovany Quenda, concluding that the Sporting player’s social media post did not have a specific recipient and is protected by freedom of expression. The case concerned the celebrations of the 2024/25 title, in which the footballer posted a photo on social media with the phrase “falas muito, chupa c...” on his shirt, which prompted a complaint from Benfica.

“The use of the phrase printed on a shirt accompanied by the photograph of player Ricardo Esgaio, who had been sanctioned for uttering that exact phrase directed at player Otamendi, is not sufficient to establish with certainty that, in this case, the recipient of the message was player Otamendi [...] it does not meet the typical elements of a disciplinary offense [...] The expression does not impute any dishonorable fact, nor does it question the integrity, technical ability, or ethics of Otamendi, or anyone else, and does not contain defamatory content. It is, nevertheless, a coarse, boorish expression lacking the dignity that should guide sports agents, but it does not exceed the right to freedom of expression,” the TAD states in the ruling.

“The context evidenced by the facts unequivocally indicates that the claimant Geovany Quenda never targeted player Nicolas Otamendi, instead aiming to cheer up his teammate Ricardo Esgaio and mock the Disciplinary Board’s decision that sanctioned him with a one-match suspension. The Disciplinary Board presumed, gratuitously and without foundation, that the claimant Geovany Quenda directed certain expressions at Nicolas Otamendi, which constitutes a flagrant violation of the principle of the presumption of innocence constitutionally guaranteed to the claimant,” it reads.

In the current sports season, wearing the Sporting shirt, Geovany Quenda – valued at 45 million euros – has played in 22 matches for the Lions. In his 1,271 minutes on the pitch, the Alvalade Club prodigy has already scored five goals and provided eight assists.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.