Brazilian striker Brandao has been handed a one-month jail
sentence for headbutting an opposing player, with the severity of his
punishment linked to the footballer's role model status, according to one of
the lawyers involved in the case.
The
judicial punishment follows a six-month sporting ban given to Brandao, who
plays for French Ligue 1 side Bastia, following the August incident when he
assaulted Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Thiago Motta. Continue..
"This
is an extremely severe sentence compared to the criminal record of my
client," Brandao's lawyer Olivier Martin told CNN affiliate BFMTV after
the three-judge panel's ruling, which also included a $25,000 fine.
"It's
all the more severe because of the motivation that was raised by the President
of the Court to justify the sentence," added Martin. "He referred to
the violence in football stadiums."
The 34-year-old can be
seen on CCTV waiting around before striking Motta and then running off out of
shot with Brazilian-born Motta following in hot pursuit.
Motta's lawyer Francois Klein said "the court wanted to mark
the occasion," as Ligue 1 players were considered role models to many
people.
"Because these images are widely circulated; it gives the
youth an absolutely regrettable idea," said Klein.
"It's well known that in many stadiums, suburban or
elsewhere, there are similar events that may occur, and it is necessary that
professional players lead by example." Neither of the two players involved
were present at the Paris court for the trial.
The court was particularly annoyed by the absence of Brandao, who
was having surgery in a Saint Etienne hospital Thursday.
Brandao is expected to "benefit from a sentence
adjustment," meaning he would serve his punishment through a community
service rather than in jail.
Against PSG, Brandao was playing in only his second match for the
Corsica-based club after joining from Saint Etienne in the summer. He was
initially suspended for four weeks following the attack which broke Motta's
nose.
Last season, he was banned for three matches for elbowing another
PSG player, Yohan Cabaye, in the head.
"Brandao will be available to play again on Feb. 22,
2015," the French league's disciplinary committee said in a statement
following his September punishment, meaning the striker will miss 24 league
matches in total.
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