Brazilian sports court suspends Victor Gabriel until Gabriel Pec recovers from broken leg
Brazil's Superior Court of Sports Justice ruled that Internacional defender Victor Gabriel will remain suspended until Cruzeiro forward Gabriel Pec returns to training, with a maximum of 180 days, after a tackle left Pec with a fractured left tibia.
The tackle
On July 22, in the 19th round of the Brazilian Serie A, Internacional hosted Cruzeiro at the Estádio Beira-Rio in Porto Alegre. In the 13th minute, defender Victor Gabriel challenged forward Gabriel Pec with a high, studs-up tackle. Pec, who had just moved from LA Galaxy for a club-record fee of at least $12 million, was making his debut. He initially left the pitch with a cut on his leg, but subsequent medical exams revealed a fracture of the left tibia. Pec underwent surgery on July 25 and is expected to be out for three to four months. Victor Gabriel was sent off, and Cruzeiro won the match 2-1.
The ruling
On July 28, the Sixth Disciplinary Commission of Brazil's Superior Court of Sports Justice (STJD) ruled that a standard penalty under the league's regulations was insufficient. Victor Gabriel was charged with violent play under Article 254 of the Brazilian Code of Sports Justice. The court applied a provision that allows an offender's suspension to match the injured player's recovery time in cases of severe injury. The sanction: a minimum six-match ban, extended until Pec is cleared to return to training, with a maximum of 180 days. The decision was not unanimous. Adjudicator Rodrigo Steinmann Bayer voted for a standard six-match suspension, but court president Jorge Octavio Lavocat Galvão, along with Eduardo Xible Salles Ramos and Aline Gonçalves Jatahy, voted for the extended penalty. The ruling can be appealed.
- Victor Gabriel tackles Gabriel Pec, fracturing his left tibia; receives a red card.
- Pec undergoes surgery for the fracture.
- STJD rules suspension until Pec returns to training, maximum 180 days.
Remorse and defense
Victor Gabriel appeared before the court and expressed remorse, at times in tears. He insisted he had no intention of injuring Pec and cited the wet, slippery pitch as a factor.
The field was wet and slippery. It was really an unfortunate incident. I apologized to him and offered him my full support.
He also told the court he had spent sleepless nights praying for Pec and offered a heartfelt apology to everyone at Cruzeiro. The prosecution acknowledged there was no intent to cause harm but emphasized that the tackle carried a high risk.
Evidence controversy
Internacional's defense submitted an audio recording of the VAR communication from the match, which the law firm had obtained from social media. The STJD questioned the recording's authenticity, and the defense subsequently asked for it to be removed from the case file. In a statement, Internacional said the error in collecting and using the content was immediately recognized and that neither the firm nor the club had acted in bad faith.
What happens next
Victor Gabriel will remain suspended until Gabriel Pec resumes training. With Pec's recovery estimated at three to four months, the ban could extend well into the Brazilian season. Internacional has the right to appeal. The STJD's decision, while rare, may influence how future cases of severe on-field injuries are handled in Brazilian football.
