April 29 – Botafogo owner John Textor has been suspended by Brazil’s Supreme Court of Sports Justice (STJD) for 45 days following his allegations of match manipulation by rival club Palmeiras.
The American will have to serve a 45-day suspension and pay a fine of R$100,000 ($19,560) after he infringed articles 243-F and 258-B. Textor’s defence strongly disagreed with the punishment in article 258-B, for pitch invasion.
The suspension means he can’t attend the stadium on match days but can work at the club on non-match days.
His defence argued that, as he is the club’s main manager and has accreditation, the American had the right to be on the touchline at the end of the match.
In practice, Textor, who had already been suspended last year, has already been sidelined for 28 days and so will just have to serve 18 days of his suspension.
Last year, in the final stretch of the season, Botafogo lost spectacularly to Palmeiras 4-3, prompting a touchline rant from Textor. Initially Textor received a 35-day ban from football activities, along with a fine of R$25,000 ($4.890).
However, Textor remains in court in two other lawsuits.
He has repeatedly claimed that Brazilian top flight football is the victim of match manipulation and that the fixing would have benefitted Palmeiras. Other clubs are considering legal action against Textor.
At the weekend, Botafogo defeated Flamengo 2-0 to claim top spot in Brazil’s Serie A.
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