Pantaleão barred by court from leading Corinthians’ Nike materials probe | OneFootball

A preliminary injunction has removed Leonardo Pantaleão from leading Corinthians’ internal probe into alleged irregularities involving Nike-supplied materials.

According to Globo.com, the São Paulo Court of Justice granted vice-president Armando Mendonça’s urgent request on Tuesday, suspending Pantaleão’s acts in the case.

The order from judge Antonio Manssur Filho, of the second Civil Court of Regional VIII in Tatuapé, cited signs of irregularities and a possible conflict of interest because Pantaleão is both acting chair of the Deliberative Council and chair of the Ethics and Discipline Committee. Non-compliance carries a R$ 50,000 fine.

The court also noted procedural flaws, including no formal appointment of a rapporteur before the defence window opened, failure to present the member’s registration file, and use of a procedure at odds with the club’s statutes. Urgency was based on the nine June deadline for Mendonça’s defence.

With no vice-chair on the Ethics and Discipline Committee, the probe will now be conducted by the committee collectively. Pantaleão described the order as issued without his prior hearing, said he is confident the judge will understand the facts after clarifications, and stressed the process continues with other members, with only his direct role temporarily restricted.

Pantaleão recently oversaw council proceedings that led to the expulsions of former presidents Andrés Sanchez and Augusto Melo. An audit led by technology director Marcelo Munhoes found withdrawals of Nike items nearing 300% above the annual contractual quota, and placed Mendonça, who manages the materials, at the centre of some cited nonconformities, including direct withdrawals without records or prior authorisation.

Source: Globo.com