A ruling by Brazil’s Superior Court of Sporting Justice has saved last year’s football league champions, Fluminense, from relegation.
The team condemned to start next year in Serie B are Portuguesa. The São Paulo club were deducted four points after, with 15 minutes to go in their final game, they brought on substitute Heverton who, it now appears, should have been serving the second game of a two-game suspension.
The decision has sparked much controversy in Brazil. Portuguesa’s president, Manuel da Lupa, has vowed to appeal against the decision and appears willing to take the case to the world football governing body, FIFA.
“Portuguesa will fight until the end. We will appeal. We can’t give up our rights. We’ll take this as far as Portuguesa’s rights go,” Mr da Lupa told the Brazilian sports TV channel Sportv.
The São Paulo side argues that it did not know Heverton was suspended and that his use as a substitute was a genuine mistake caused by miscommunication between a lawyer representing the club and the team.
Brazil’s football governing body, the CBF, said that ignorance was no excuse.
