Brazilian Court Suspends Internacional Defender Until Injured Rival Returns

The Brazilian sports judiciary has handed down an exceptional penalty to Internacional Porto Alegre defender Victor Gabriel following a violent tackle that caused Cruzeiro forward Gabriel Beck to suffer a fracture in his left leg.

The Sixth Disciplinary Committee of the Superior Court of Sports Justice decided to suspend Gabriel until Beck returns to training with his team, with the suspension period not exceeding 180 days. This ruling goes beyond the usual sanctions typically applied for such infractions.

Beck sustained the injury during the match between the two teams, which required surgical intervention. He is expected to be sidelined for a period estimated between three and four months.

The court determined that the standard punishment, ranging from a one-match to a six-match ban, was insufficient given the severity of the injury. Therefore, it invoked a provision allowing the suspension to extend until the injured player is capable of resuming training.

During the hearing, Victor Gabriel appeared emotional, affirming that he did not intend to harm his opponent. He also apologized to Beck and Cruzeiro fans, emphasizing his support for the player throughout his recovery period.

Internacional has the right to appeal the decision before the full panel of the Brazilian Sports Court.