Santos was sanctioned with six home games behind closed doors for the riots that occurred on December 6 of last year, when the first relegation in its history was confirmed. This was determined by the Superior Court of Sports Justice of Brazil, in a ruling that also included a fine of 100,000 reais (about $20,000).
The ruling, which can be appealed, should come into effect when the Serie B championship begins in the third week of April.
The court condemned the institution for “failing to take measures capable of preventing and repressing” the acts that occurred after the home defeat against Fortaleza on the last date of the Brasileirão. That fall decreed the loss of the category, which angered some of the supporters.
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Inside the Vila Belmiro stadium there was an invasion of the playing field and blunt objects were thrown from the stands. Outside, a group vandalized commercial premises and set buses and private vehicles on fire, including some of the Peixe footballers.
The prosecutor in the case had requested that there be ten games in which the team plays without its fans, the maximum penalty for the facts judged. On the contrary, Santos’ lawyer requested that there be no punishment, arguing that everything possible was done that night to avoid violence.
In agreement, the president of Santos, Marcelo Teixeira, called what happened on December 6 “inadmissible,” but stressed that they have collaborated with the Brazilian authorities to identify those responsible. Likewise, they reaffirmed their commitment that starting in May they will adopt a facial recognition system in the stadium.
