Overview
- The Superior Tribunal de Justiça Desportiva's Tribunal Pleno overturned a first-instance acquittal and unanimously imposed a one-match suspension on Paulinho on Wednesday.
- The punishment stems from a goal celebration in which Paulinho made an obscene hand gesture and told opposing fans to be silent during Palmeiras' 3–0 win over Flamengo at the Maracanã.
- The Procuradoria appealed the earlier acquittal and the panel applied provisions of the Código Brasileiro de Justiça Desportiva cited by reports as articles 258 and 258‑A.
- Palmeiras issued a statement criticizing the decision, singled out relatora Mariana Barreiras and argued the ruling showed inconsistent punishments compared with previous cases.
- Paulinho will miss the July 22 match against Coritiba after the World Cup break and the club's only remaining option is a lengthy appeal to the CAS, so the suspension stands in Brazil in the short term.