Overview
- A challenge by Victor Gabriel during the Cruzeiro–Internacional match on July 22 fractured Gabriel Pec’s left tibia, required surgery, and left Pec with an estimated three-to-four month recovery time.
- At a July 28 STJD hearing the tribunal applied paragraph 3 of article 254 of the sporting code to condition Victor Gabriel’s return to play on Pec’s recovery, allowing suspension for up to 180 days instead of a fixed six-match ban.
- The Internacional defense presented an audio labeled as VAR communication that the tribunal and press later identified as a social-media parody, and the club and its law firm acknowledged the mistake and asked for the file to be removed from the record.
- Victor Gabriel was sent off during the match after roughly 13 minutes on the field and testified at the hearing, apologizing and saying the incident was an unfortunate accident without intent to injure.
- The ruling removes a defensive option for Internacional, could sideline both players for months depending on recovery and appeals, and raises questions about verification of digital evidence in sports trials.