In somewhat harsh and tragic circumstances in Brazil, Sao Caetano have been docked 24 points after defender Serginho collapsed and died during the game with Sao Paulo in October.
After a lengthy hearing Brazil's four-man Sports Disciplinary Tribunal also banned the club doctor Paulo Forte for 1,440 days and club president Nairo Ferreira for 720 days.
Serginho, full name Paulo Sergio de Oliveira Lima, had been at the club since 1999 and collapsed after suffering a cardio-respiratory arrest in the 59th minute of the Brazilian championship match at the Morumbi stadium.
He was pronounced dead after being taken to hospital. The game was suspended at 0-0 and the remaining 31 minutes were played a week later, when Sao Paulo won 4-2.
The club will also face a police investigation, as officials try to establish whether the club knew that the 30-year-old was at risk of collapse. The club have denied these allegations although admitted that routine tests at the start of 2004 showed that the player suffered an irregular heartbeat, but further tests proved that there was no reason why he couldn't carry on playing.
Although the point penalty doesn't mean the club will be relegated, they have dropped in the Brazilian Championship from 4th to 14th place and it's also set to cost them a place in next year's South American Libertadores Cup.
Sao Caetano's lawyer Joao Zanforlin insists the club will appeal.
I don't think any Brazilian club will be in a rush to take Fadiga off our hands, then.
In somewhat harsh and tragic circumstances in Brazil, Sao Caetano have been docked 24 points after defender Serginho collapsed and died during the game with Sao Paulo in October.
After a lengthy hearing Brazil's four-man Sports Disciplinary Tribunal also banned the club doctor Paulo Forte for 1,440 days and club president Nairo Ferreira for 720 days.
Serginho, full name Paulo Sergio de Oliveira Lima, had been at the club since 1999 and collapsed after suffering a cardio-respiratory arrest in the 59th minute of the Brazilian championship match at the Morumbi stadium.
He was pronounced dead after being taken to hospital. The game was suspended at 0-0 and the remaining 31 minutes were played a week later, when Sao Paulo won 4-2.
The club will also face a police investigation, as officials try to establish whether the club knew that the 30-year-old was at risk of collapse. The club have denied these allegations although admitted that routine tests at the start of 2004 showed that the player suffered an irregular heartbeat, but further tests proved that there was no reason why he couldn't carry on playing.
Although the point penalty doesn't mean the club will be relegated, they have dropped in the Brazilian Championship from 4th to 14th place and it's also set to cost them a place in next year's South American Libertadores Cup.
Sao Caetano's lawyer Joao Zanforlin insists the club will appeal.
I don't think any Brazilian club will be in a rush to take Fadiga off our hands, then.