O goalkeepers Gabriel Brazão dos Santos was punished by the Superior Tribunal de Justiça Desportiva (STJD) with a suspension of four games and a fine of R$ 4,000 due to statements made after the match against Palmeiras, in the 14th round of the Brazilian Championship.
The statements made by Brazão in the mixed zone were considered by the rapporteur Rafael Bozzano as an insinuation of favoritism to Palmeiras due to home field advantage, which hit the impartiality of the refereeing.
With this, Brazão will be out of Santos for up to four games, which could be a significant problem for the team, especially considering the upcoming matches.
Santos is scheduled to face Vitória, Botafogo, Chapecoense and São Paulo in the next games, and Brazão’s absence could be felt, especially considering that the team is seeking a good position in the Brazilian Championship.
The goalkeeper was an important piece in the team, and his absence may give more space for opponents to score goals.
In the Brazilian Championship, up to the 17th round, Santos occupied the **10th position**, with 20 points, while the leader was **Botafogo**, with 34 points.
The team had come from a sequence of irregular results, with 3 victories, 2 draws and 2 defeats in the last 7 games.
Brazão’s defense argued that the athlete only answered questions from the press in a legitimate way and did not make direct attacks on the referee.
The lawyer Marcelo Mendes stated that Brazão’s statements were a legitimate criticism and not an offense to the refereeing team.
However, the STJD understood that Brazão’s statements hit the impartiality of the refereeing and decided to apply the punishment.
The team can still appeal the decision, but if the punishment is maintained, Brazão will be out of the next games.
Santos faces Vitória this Saturday, at Vila Belmiro Stadium, in the 18th round of the Brasileirão, and the team will seek a victory to stay in the fight for a good position in the championship.
Brazão’s absence may give more responsibility to the next goalkeeper who will take the starting position, and Santos may need a different strategy to deal with the pressure in the upcoming games.
The team still has **8 games** left in the Brazilian Championship, and a good sequence of results may help the team to rise in the table.
The **arbitration** has been a sensitive topic in Brazilian football, and Brazão’s statements may have been an example of how criticism of the arbitration can have consequences for players and teams.
