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Internacional defender Victor Gabriel has been suspended until injured Cruzeiro forward Gabriel Pec returns to training, with the ban capped at six months.
(Screengrab from X)
Internacional defender Victor Gabriel has received one of the most unusual punishments in recent football history.
Brazil’s Superior Court of Sports Justice (STJD) ruled that Victor’s suspension will last until Cruzeiro forward Gabriel Pec is fit to return to training or for a maximum of 180 days.
The extraordinary decision stems from a reckless challenge during a Brazilian Serie A clash on July 22, when Victor Gabriel was shown a straight red card after a heavy tackle left Pec with a fractured left tibia.
🚨Inter player Victor Gabriel has been suspended after his foul on Gabriel Pec.How long is his suspension?
He will only be allowed to return once Gabriel Pec has return from injury, with a maximum punishment of up to 6 months.
Very interesting rule 🤯 pic.twitter.com/KujjfqYhdy
— Brasil Football 🇧🇷 (@BrasilEdition) July 28, 2026
Horror Tackle On Pec’s Debut
Pecn had only recently joined Cruzeiro from MLS side LA Galaxy and was making his debut for the club.
On Tuesday, the STJD concluded that a standard suspension would not adequately reflect the seriousness of the offence.
“The offender may remain suspended until the injured party is able to return to training, respecting a maximum period of 180 days,” the court said.
The ruling is subject to appeal.
Victor Gabriel Apologises
Appearing before the court, Victor Gabriel insisted there was no malicious intent behind the challenge and expressed regret over the incident.
“It was a completely unfortunate incident,” he said.
“I apologized to him and offered my help. I asked him to forgive me for not having had any ill intent, and all I could do at that moment was pray for him.”
VAR Audio Sparks Fresh Controversy
The hearing also took an unexpected turn after the court questioned the authenticity of audio evidence submitted by Internacional as part of the player’s defence.
The club later admitted that the recording had been sourced from audio circulating on social media rather than an official VAR recording.
About the Author
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His…Read More
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