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Brandao sentenced

November 28, 2014

Brazilian footballer Brandao has been sentenced by a French court to a month in jail and fined, after headbutting an opponent after a game. The Bastia-based striker had already been banned from playing for six months.

https://p.dw.com/p/1DukI
Brandao
Image: Reuters/C. Platiau

Brazilian footballer Brandao has been sentenced to a month in jail and given a fine for 20,000 euros ($24,869) for headbutting an opposing player in August of this year. The incident occured after Bastia's 2-0 loss to Paris St Germain, in France's top football division, Ligue 1.

The Bastia striker had waited in the players tunnel for 20 minutes after being substituted, and as the players came off the field he walked over to PSG player Thiago Motta and headbutted him in the face before running away.

Motta's nose was broken in the incident, and PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi called for Brandao to be banned for life. Instead, the French football league has forbidden Brandao from playing for six months.

Brandao's lawyer, Olivier Martin, told AP that the player will probably not have to spend time behind bars, with his sentence likely to be converted to community service.

"There has been too much media coverage and that resulted in a disproportionate decision," Martin said, adding that he has yet to decide whether to appeal the sanction.

As Brandao's playing ban was handed down in September, the 34-year-old will have to wait until February of next year before he can play again in competitive matches.

al/jh (AP, Reuters)