Sport will go on trial next Tuesday (12) after the attack by organized supporters on Fortaleza’s bus on February 21. The Superior Court of Sports Justice (STJD) has set the date for the hearing, which could result in new punishments for the Pernambuco club.
For the time being, Sport is already taking preventative measures, such as playing matches with closed gates and not having fans when playing as visitors. The punishment, however, only applies to CBF tournaments, such as the Northeast Cup, where the attack on Fortaleza took place. In the Pernambucano Championship, fans are free.
Only after the trial will Sport be able to appeal. There is a chance that the STJD will uphold the punishment and even increase the penalty, but the club’s legal department is confident that the punishment will be reduced.
“We are confident that the penalty will be reduced, because we believe in the institutions. The club cannot be penalized for the attitudes of third parties,” said Rodrigo Guedes, Sport’s legal vice-president.
Sport played twice as visitors after the punishment, against Trem (Copa do Brasil) and Altos (Copa do Nordeste). According to the STJD, the limit of preventive matches with punishment is ten games until the trial. If convicted, the matches played will count towards the sentence. The Recife club is trying to overturn the decision to have visiting fans on the 20th, against Náutico, in a Copa do Nordeste derby.
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