‘Nicolas committed no crime’, says player’s defence over tragedy | OneFootball

In a statement, attorney Guilherme Fernandes Lopes Pacheco, who is responsible for the defense of full-back Nicolas, 19, who is facing manslaughter charges while remaining free after being involved in an accident that resulted in the run-over and death of an 84-year-old man on Tuesday night (4), commented on the case this Thursday (6).

The statement categorically says that the player “did not commit any crime.”

“The defense trusts in a technical, responsible, and impartial investigation of the events and is convinced that the evidence will demonstrate, unequivocally, that Nicolas did not engage in any criminal conduct, and that his innocence will be effectively proven at the appropriate procedural moment,” the text says.

According to Nicolas’s defense, the evidence clearly shows that the player was not driving illegally and provided every possible kind of assistance to the victim.

“The defense clarifies that Nicolas did not commit any crime. At the time of the events, the athlete was not under the influence of alcohol, a circumstance duly verified by the competent authorities, and he was driving the vehicle lawfully, with a valid and regular National Driver’s License,” it adds.

“After the incident, Nicolas remained at the scene, provided immediate and effective aid to the victim, called emergency services, and took all measures within his reach. From the very beginning, the athlete has been fully cooperating with the police authorities, providing all necessary clarification for the full elucidation of the facts,” it states.

The lawyer said he will not provide further clarification or technical details about the ongoing investigative steps, in observance of the confidentiality ordered in the case.

According to the statement, the restriction on further public comments is intended to “preserve the court-ordered confidentiality of the case, the regularity of the investigative procedures, and respect for all parties involved in the incident.”

The Case

Before running over and killing an 84-year-old man in Barueri, in Greater São Paulo, left-back Nicolas, 18, had gone with teammates Igor Felisberto and Ryan Francisco to visit their friend Lucca Marques at his home in Alphaville.

Lucca has remained at home resting since last Sunday (2), as a result of an accident suffered the day before. The young forward crashed his car and suffered a fractured jaw, which will be corrected with conservative treatment following the recommendation of an oral and maxillofacial specialist, with no need for surgery.

After showing support for their friend, the trio of youth-team players from Tricolor headed to the Ráscal restaurant, located at Shopping Iguatemi Alphaville, for dinner.

Nicolas will face the manslaughter case while free (when there is no intent to kill). He was released from professional obligations by the club’s management to focus on his legal defense and emotional recovery.

As AVANTE MEU TRICOLOR learned on Tuesday night (4), given the psychological impact caused by the accident, the Tricolor leadership decided to sideline the player indefinitely.

The full-back’s return to the senior squad will depend on the progress of his emotional condition and strict compliance with the obligations imposed by the courts.

Sources in São Paulo’s top leadership told the outlet that he will receive constant psychological support.

Conditions for Provisional Release

As established by the court decision, Nicolas must comply with a series of precautionary measures in order to remain free during the proceedings:

Court appearances: Mandatory monthly appearance to report and justify his activities.

Updated information: Requirement to keep his residential address permanently updated.

Travel restriction: Prohibited from leaving the judicial district of his residence for more than eight days without prior court authorization.

Monitoring and Support from Management

After being granted provisional release, Nicolas was contacted by representatives of São Paulo’s football department.

President Harry Massis, sporting manager Rafinha, and members of the coaching staff spoke with the young athlete to offer support.

The club will continue monitoring the full-back’s situation daily. Decisions regarding the player’s sporting future will be made gradually by the board, taking into account developments in the legal case and the player’s psychological state.

The player, who has a contract with the Morumbi club until 2029, was included in the squad list for the recent Brazilian Championship match against Flamengo, although he did not take the field.

Developed in Tricolor’s youth academy since the age of 10 — after an initial spell in futsal teams — Nicolas developed versatile tactical ability, also playing as a defensive midfielder and playmaking midfielder.

The athlete’s promotion to the main squad took place in November 2025 under coach Hernán Crespo, driven by standout numbers with the under-20 team:

Under-20 Performance (2025): 40 matches played, 10 goals scored, and 11 assists.

Senior Team Record: 7 appearances for the first team, two of them as a starter.

Dual Citizenship and International Monitoring

Holding Swiss citizenship, the young full-back had been monitored by the Swiss Football Federation. During the World Cup period in North America, Nicolas was invited by the organization to watch the European national team’s tournament debut in person, and he was among the names being considered for future call-ups to the country’s youth and senior teams.

Police report and conflicting testimony

Nicolas had dinner at a shopping mall in the region accompanied by full-back Igor Felisberto and forward Ryan Francisco, also players for the São Paulo club. The group left the establishment in separate vehicles.

After learning of the accident, Felisberto and Francisco returned to the scene, where they remained until emergency responders arrived before going to the police station to give statements.

The police report filed in the case includes suspicion that the players were street racing on a public road. The hypothesis is based on the account of a witness, who said they saw the vehicles traveling at high speed shortly before the impact.

In their official statements to the police authority, all three players categorically denied taking part in any illegal race.

The 19-year-old Tricolor full-back told police that none of them had consumed alcohol and also said that an app on his phone indicated his vehicle was traveling at 50 km/h.

According to the police report, Paulo Rodrigues, 84, was crossing Alameda Rio Negro, in front of Shopping Iguatemi Alphaville, at around 9:53 p.m. (Brasília time), when he was struck by a BMW 220i, Nicolas’s vehicle.

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