STJD clears Gabriel Brazão to play for Santos | OneFootball

Santos goalkeeper Gabriel Brazão secured a major victory in court this Wednesday (3). The Full Court of the Superior Court of Sports Justice (STJD) accepted the club’s appeal and overturned the four-match suspension imposed on the player for criticizing the refereeing.

With the decision, the penalty was reduced to just a warning, and the goalkeeper is now cleared to play for the team in the remainder of the Brazilian Championship.

⚖️ Understanding the Case

Brazão had been punished by the 3rd Disciplinary Committee of the STJD under article 243-F (offending someone’s honor) because of statements he made after the loss in the derby against Palmeiras, played on May 2 in the 14th round of the Brasileirão.

At the time, the goalkeeper complained about the yellow card he received for alleged time-wasting and directly criticized referee Raphael Claus’s standards:

"Playing at Palmeiras’ home, we know that when there’s any doubt, it always goes their way," the player said in the mixed zone.

🧑‍⚖️ How the STJD Hearing Went

During the Full Court session this Wednesday, rapporteur Marco Aurélio Choy argued for the player’s full acquittal. In his view, the statement was measured and did not offend the referee’s honor.

"Turning every criticism of a refereeing decision into a disciplinary offense would be tantamount to establishing a regime of silence incompatible with the principles that govern a democratic state under the rule of law," the rapporteur said.

However, auditor Rodrigo Aiache partly disagreed. He agreed that offending honor (Art. 243-F) did not apply in this case, but classified Brazão’s conduct under article 258 (showing disrespect to members of the refereeing team). Aiache suggested a one-match suspension, immediately converted into a warning.

Aiache’s position was backed by the other members of the court (auditors Antonieta Pinto and Mariana Barreiras, as well as Full Court president Luís Otávio Veríssimo Teixeira), resulting in a ruling in favor of overturning the penalty and clearing Santos’ No. 1 goalkeeper.

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

📸 MIGUEL SCHINCARIOL - AFP or licensors