'Prestianni rule' trips up ex-Benfica man: forward sent off | OneFootball

The end of the match between Vitória and Botafogo, played this Sunday, was marked by moments of great tension, with Arthur Cabral at the center of it. The former Benfica striker was shown a straight red card after the final whistle following a heated argument with Jair Ventura, coach of the Bahia side.

The dismissal came under the new guideline known in Brazil as the “Vini Jr. law,” created to punish insulting behavior in which players use a hand in front of their mouth to hide what they are saying. The measure arose in the wake of the episode involving the Brazilian international and Prestianni, a Benfica player.

The incident began in the closing minutes of the match. Santi Rodríguez, a Botafogo midfielder coached by Portuguese manager Franclim Carvalho, tried to play a long pass, but the ball went out over the touchline with too much power. Jair Ventura reacted ironically, jumping and pretending to head the ball. The gesture did not sit well with Arthur Cabral, who immediately showed his displeasure while the match was still being played.

After the final whistle, the striker approached the Vitória coach to demand respect. The exchange quickly escalated and ended with the referee showing a straight red card to the Botafogo player. Clearly furious, Arthur Cabral left the pitch while hurling insults, in a moment that ended up sparking a general melee.

Players from both teams became involved in the argument, forcing the security staff on the pitch to step in to separate those involved and prevent the situation from escalating further. Arthur Cabral, who played for Benfica before returning to Brazilian football, is now linked to a controversial incident in the Brazilian league, in a match that ended in a highly tense atmosphere between the two clubs.

Watch Arthur Cabral sent off under the Prestianni Law:

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