Dragões da Real backs Pinotti and puts pressure on São Paulo council | OneFootball

One of São Paulo’s main organized supporter groups, Dragões da Real, released a manifesto this Wednesday (15) in defense of councilors Vinícius Pinotti and Fábio Mariz.

The letter comes after Olten Ayres de Abreu, president of São Paulo’s Deliberative Council, scheduled for the 23rd (Thursday) the start of the vote to review and vote on the Ethics Committee’s opinion, which could suspend both of them for one year.

The Council’s decision will determine whether Pinotti and Mariz will be punished or acquitted in the case involving the leak of an audio recording that triggered the Luxury Box Scandal. The initial complaint was forwarded to the Ethics Committee by Douglas Schwartzmann, a former director and former councilor expelled from the club for his role in the case, in which he clandestinely negotiated a space at Morumbi for a concert by Colombian singer Shakira in February of last year.

“The actions of councilors Vinícius Pinotti and Fábio Mariz de Oliveira, in obtaining audio recordings that revealed improper conduct by former councilors Mara Casares and Douglas Schwartzmann, represented a decisive step toward the necessary punishments,” the text says.

“Vinicius and Fabio worked for the good of the club, exercised their São Paulo citizenship, and represented its more than 22 million supporters,” it adds.

In the Ethics Committee’s final opinion, signed by rapporteur Antonio Patiño Zorz and backed by other committee members, the body found merit in the disciplinary complaint. The decision states that there was a violation of institutional duties and damage to the club’s image stemming from the way the audio recordings were obtained and disclosed.

“We at Dragões da Real express our support for Vinícius Pinotti and Fábio Mariz de Oliveira for not withholding evidence when there was a need to clarify the truth, for the good of SPFC,” the text states.

“We emphasize that all support expressed here is based exclusively on facts related to the club, with no connection whatsoever to political positions or endorsements,” it adds.

According to the final report, the councilors’ actions were characterized as coordination with third parties to obtain material involving the so-called “luxury box case,” in addition to discussing strategies for selectively disclosing the content to the press. The committee understood that the conduct went beyond the limits of a legitimate complaint and constituted institutional harm to São Paulo.

“More than just support, we call on SPFC’s councilors, on April 23, to REJECT the opinion of the Deliberative Council’s Ethics Committee that suggests the suspension of the aforementioned councilors. Stay strong, Vinicius and Fábio!”

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