Augusto Melo takes legal action to try to stop Corinthians expulsion | OneFootball

Former Corinthians president Augusto Melo filed a declaratory lawsuit seeking to nullify the administrative disciplinary procedure, along with a request for urgent relief, in an attempt to suspend the process that could result in his expulsion from the club’s membership.

The lawsuit was filed against Corinthians and against the acting president of the Deliberative Council, Leonardo Pantaleão, on the eve of the body’s extraordinary meeting, scheduled for this Monday (1st), which will review the opinion of the Ethics and Discipline Committee in favor of removing the former chairman.

Photo: José Manoel Idalgo/Agência Corinthians

In the document, Augusto argues that the disciplinary process is marked by a series of irregularities that, according to his defense, compromise the validity of the entire procedure. The former president contends that there was a violation of due process, adversarial proceedings, full defense rights, and the duty of impartiality by the bodies responsible for handling the case.

According to the petition, the disciplinary complaint initially attributed to the former official alleged acts of violence and assault related to the events recorded at Parque São Jorge on May 31, 2025. However, the defense claims that the accusatory narrative was changed throughout the course of the proceedings, later shifting to allegations of intimidation and coercion against the club’s then-interim president, Osmar Stabile.

One of the main arguments presented is the alleged lack of individualization of the conduct attributed to Augusto Melo. According to the defense, there is no formal charging document in the case file capable of objectively defining which acts were allegedly committed by the former president, nor which provision of the bylaws was effectively violated.

The lawsuit also challenges the procedural handling adopted by the Ethics and Discipline Committee. The lawyers allege that Augusto was not properly notified to participate in the judgment session that recommended his expulsion, which prevented him from presenting an oral defense and following the proceedings. In addition, they argue that there was no formal communication of the judgment’s outcome nor any disclosure of the respective session minutes.

Another point raised concerns the production of evidence. The defense says it requested full access to the footage related to the investigated facts and the carrying out of other measures considered essential to clarifying the case. According to the petition, those requests were not formally considered, which may constitute a restriction of the right to defense.

The document also points to an alleged conflict of interest in the handling of the procedure. The argument maintains that Leonardo Pantaleão held incompatible roles, acting simultaneously as president of the Ethics and Discipline Committee, president of the Deliberative Council, and the club’s lawyer in matters related to the investigated facts. For the defense, this circumstance compromises the impartiality required in sanctioning proceedings.

The petition also questions the very validity of the disciplinary procedure adopted by Corinthians. According to the lawyers, the club uses a document titled “On Procedures in Disciplinary Proceedings,” dated 2015, without having presented documentation proving its proper approval, publication, or entry into force.

As for the merits of the accusation, Augusto Melo denies having engaged in any conduct capable of justifying the application of the maximum penalty provided for in Corinthians’ bylaws. The defense states that his presence on the club’s premises on May 31, 2025, was authorized by the then-acting president and accompanied by the security team of the interim administration itself.

According to the text, the club’s internal footage would show that there was no invasion, violence, intimidation, or any behavior capable of constituting an offense to sports social morality or damage to the entity’s institutional image.

In addition to requesting the full nullification of the disciplinary procedure, Augusto Melo asks the courts to immediately suspend any deliberation related to his expulsion until the case is finally adjudicated.

The case now depends on review by the Judiciary, which must decide on the urgent request presented by the defense before the Deliberative Council meeting called to review the Ethics Committee’s opinion is held.

Corinthians News

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