Images show a different version of events than the one that justified the heavy penalty for the Portuguese coach, who is seeking a reduction in his suspension.
Portuguese coach Abel Ferreira, currently managing Palmeiras, has been suspended for eight games by the Superior Court of Sports Justice (STJD) following his expulsions against Fluminense and São Paulo . His defense has already filed an appeal to reduce the punishment, arguing that the referees’ reports do not accurately reflect what happened.
Maisfutebol gained access to images used by Abel’s defense, which contradict the referees’ version of events .
Against Fluminense, Abel Ferreira was sent off with a straight red card and, as a result, received a two-match suspension.
After the end of the match, I directly expelled the coach of the Palmeiras team for addressing the assistant referee number 1, Fernanda Gomes Antunes, and the fourth official, Luis Tisne, in a rude and offensive manner, gesturing with his arms. He also clapped in an ironic and mocking way (…) I also report that, after the expulsion, he had to be restrained by members of his team to leave the field of play, wrote the referee in the match report.
Now, as can be seen in the images, Abel (who appears from 00:06 seconds onwards in the lower right corner, near the midfield line) did not behave in a hostile manner towards the refereeing team. According to the defense, the Portuguese coach’s applause was directed at the Palmeiras players.
The Palmeiras coach also disputes the alleged lack of consistency regarding what happened in the game against São Paulo, in which he was sent off after receiving two yellow cards instead of a straight red. Even so, this game resulted in a six=game suspension, which, added to the two games from the other match where he received a straight red card, makes a total of eight.
Abel’s defense cites other cases in Brazilian football to contest the coach’s punishment, namely the suspension of only 12 games applied to Bruno Henrique, of Flamengo, for involvement in a betting scheme .
Recurring situations involving other coaches in the Brazilian Championship were also pointed out, situations that were not sanctioned in the same way.
Despite acknowledging behavioral errors, the coach believes that nothing justifies the severity of the punishment.
It is also important to mention that Abel has already missed two games on the bench, meaning that even if the appeal is not accepted, he will only have to serve six more games of suspension.