Grêmio is excluded from the Copa do Brasil due to racism.

Vladimir Platonow - Reporter for Agência Brasil

The Superior Court of Sports Justice (STJD), through the 3rd Disciplinary Commission, decided today (3) to exclude Grêmio from the Copa do Brasil because of the crime of racism, which occurred on August 28, in a match against Santos, when the Santos goalkeeper Aranha was insulted by fans and called a monkey. The team from Rio Grande do Sul was also fined R$ 50. The decision was unanimous, by four votes.

Although Grêmio's defense requested the club's acquittal, arguing that only five people were involved in the racism case, within a crowd of 30 paying spectators, the members of the STJD (Superior Court of Sports Justice) understood that the penalty has a pedagogical character against racist attitudes. According to the president of the 3rd Disciplinary Commission, Fabrício Dazi, the decision shows clubs that they need to be responsible for their fans and also demonstrates to the world that Brazil is not complacent with racism on the field.

The match referee, Wilton Pereira Sampaio, was suspended for 45 days and fined R$ 800 for not including Aranha's complaint in the first version of the match report, only adding it in an addendum after the match, when he became aware of the incident through television footage.

The two assistant referees and the fourth official were suspended for 30 days and fined R$ 500. The identified fans were convicted and will be banned from attending Grêmio's stadium for 720 days. Grêmio's president, Fábio Koff, stated that he will appeal the decision.