Andreas Pereira laments Libertadores ban after Palmeiras win over Santos | OneFootball

Andreas Pereira ended a near three-month goal drought as Palmeiras beat Santos 3-0 in Wednesday’s Copa do Brasil quarter-final first leg, yet his night was tempered by frustration over a Libertadores suspension.

According to Globo.com, Conmebol has imposed a two-match ban for his red card against Cerro Porteño. He served the automatic suspension in the return in Asunción and will also miss the first leg of the quarter-finals against LDU.

Pereira said he was upset, stressing he has never been dismissed for aggression and that it is not his style of play. He felt the card and punishment were very unfair and added the case is with Palmeiras’ lawyers and directors, hoping they can act before the next game.

The governing body extended the sanction after deeming his action against Jorge Morel to be aggression, judging a deliberate slap as he tried to shake off the marker. He was also fined US$ 4,000, around R$ 20,000, to be deducted from Palmeiras’ broadcast revenue, and the decision is not open to appeal.

In the days after the dismissal, a Palmeiras representative visited Conmebol headquarters. An attempt to annul the red card failed, then a move to downgrade the offence recorded by referee Gustavo Tejera was also rejected.

Pereira will sit out the Libertadores first leg but is available for Palmeiras’ next fixture. On Sunday, the league leaders visit Mirassol at Maião at 18:30.

Source: Globo.com

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”