Justice in football sometimes takes an unexpected turn. According to reports from Brazil, SC Internacional defender Victor Gabriel received an extraordinary suspension after a horrific tackle severely injured opponent Gabriel Pec during a match between Internacional and Cruzeiro.
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Subscribe Sekarang →Based on the ruling by the superior court of sports justice, the defender's ban will last until Pec returns to training, capped at a maximum of 180 days. Pec suffered a left tibia fracture from the challenge and faces a lengthy recovery period of three to four months.
Defending his actions, Gabriel stated that the "slippery and wet" pitch prevented him from controlling his movement. He added "It was truly an unfortunate action. I apologized to him and offered him all my support." Prosecutors acknowledged there was no explicit intent to injure, though the dangerous nature of the tackle warranted strict action.
Legal teams retain the right to appeal the unusual verdict. Meanwhile, the ruling sets a striking precedent regarding player safety and accountability across Brazilian football competitions.