Bruno Henrique has been handed a 12-game suspension, in addition to a R$60,000 fine, for benefiting bettors by forcing a yellow card in a 2023 match.

Both Bruno Henrique’s lawyers and Flamengo’s defense will appeal to take the case to the STJD Plenary, the second and final court.

The club is treating the matter with less urgency due to the FIFA deadline and is awaiting the STJD’s ruling to be published before proceeding with the case. According to attorney Michel Assef, representing Flamengo, the fact that the conviction was not unanimous also helps: the vote was 4-1 for conviction under Article 243-A (acting contrary to sporting ethics).

“When the ruling is in our hands, we will immediately appeal and request a stay of execution. If there were an urgent matter, which there isn’t, due to FIFA, Flamengo would have requested a stay of execution right away,” he commented. “The Sports Court has always demonstrated that, in cases like this, granting a stay of execution is advisable, especially with dissenting votes, as there was, both on the issue of the statute of limitations and on the merits.”

As EXTRA has learned, there is an interpretation that the player needs to serve half of a sentence for a stay of execution to be mandatory. However, requests for suspension of longer sentences are generally granted promptly, which increases the chances that the number 27 will not be immediately sidelined. While the future of his sentence remains unclear, Bruno Henrique returned to Ninho do Urubu today with the Flamengo squad after four days off. The suspension imposed by the Superior Court of Justice (STJD) does not prevent him from participating in training activities at the training center. In fact, he could play in the first leg of the Libertadores quarterfinals against Estudiantes-ARG on the 18th.