Court upholds huge ruling against Corinthians in ex-academy case | OneFootball

Corinthians had upheld, on appeal, a ruling related to former full-back Daniel Marcos, who suffered a serious knee injury while playing for the club’s Under-20 team and ended his career at the age of 23. With adjustments and interest applied, the amount owed by the club is currently estimated at around R$ 3.5 million.

The decision was made by the 14th Panel of the 2nd Regional Labor Court (TRT-2). Corinthians had appealed after being sentenced in the lower court in May and managed to change only one point of the ruling. The other compensation orders previously determined were upheld.

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According to information published by ge, the case centers on an injury Daniel suffered in December 2020 during a Corinthians match against Grêmio in the Brazilian Under-20 Championship. On that occasion, the full-back injured the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and the meniscus in his right knee.

Appeal changes only part of the ruling

In the appeal ruling, Corinthians succeeded in removing compensation of R$ 204,000 related to mandatory insurance against workplace accidents. The club presented documentation proving that Daniel had coverage during the period.

The initial ruling had been calculated at approximately R$ 3 million. Despite the removal of the R$ 204,000, the application of interest and monetary adjustment to the remaining amounts brings the updated total back to around R$ 3.5 million.

Among the upheld orders is the payment of R$ 2,286,764.40 for material damages, in a single installment. Another R$ 200,000 for moral damages was also maintained. The final amount remains subject to monetary adjustment.

The Labor Court considered the player’s injury to be a workplace accident, since it occurred while Daniel was carrying out his professional activity in a match for Corinthians.

In the opinion that led the decision, appellate judge Homero Batista Mateus da Silva rejected the club’s argument that a sprain could happen in various everyday circumstances. The judge emphasized that, in the case under review, the injury occurred during a match played by the athlete while representing Corinthians. The understanding was unanimously followed by the members of the 14th Panel of TRT-2.

Contacted by ge, Corinthians had not commented on the decision by the time the original report was published.

The injury happened while he was still in the Under-20 team

Daniel’s path after the injury was marked by treatment, surgeries, and new attempts to return to the pitch.

About two weeks after the injury suffered in December 2020, the full-back underwent his first surgery. Due to the stability resulting from the accident, he later signed a new contract with Corinthians, valid until December 2024, with a monthly salary of R$ 17,000.

In 2022, Daniel was loaned to Cianorte, from Paraná. During his spell at the club, he again had a problem in the same knee and needed to undergo a second surgery, carried out under Corinthians’ responsibility.

In the lawsuit, the former player’s defense reported difficulties during recovery, with pain and limitations that prevented the expected progress whenever the athlete began the transition back to activities.

New attempts to return to the pitch

Daniel got another opportunity to seek regular playing time away from Parque São Jorge in May 2023, when he was loaned to Ferroviário. The stint, however, lasted about a month. The Ceará club sent the full-back back to Corinthians after concluding that he was not physically fit to play.

In June of that year, the player underwent a third surgery.

His contract with Corinthians came to an end in March 2024. On that occasion, the club terminated the deal and paid the full-back about R$ 131,000 in severance pay.

Daniel still tried to resume his career afterward with Resende, from Rio de Janeiro, but was unable to play regularly again. At the beginning of 2026, at the age of 23, he announced his retirement from football.

Now, the case remains in the judicial sphere after TRT-2’s decision to uphold most of the lower-court ruling.

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