The Tribunal of Justiça Desportiva of In a trial that lasted a few hours and attracted the attention of the sports media, the court decided to severely punish a first division athlete, reinforcing the zero tolerance policy against discriminatory acts in sport. The session was marked by intense debates about the application of Código Brasileiro of Justiça Desportiva (CBJD) and the need for punitive examples to curb behaviors that harm the dignity of arbitration professionals, especially on gender issues. The final verdict imposed a heavy sanction, removing the player from combat for a significant period of the 2026 season.
Defender Gustavo Marques, from Red Bull Bragantino, was the defendant in question, convicted after uttering sexist insults against referee Daiane Muniz. O episódio lamentável gerou repercussão imediata nas redes sociais e nos bastidores do futebol paulista, culminando na denúncia formalizada pela procuradoria do tribunal.
In addition to the sporting suspension, the athlete will have to bear significant financial losses, both in the sphere of sports justice and in the administrative sanctions applied by his own club, which acted quickly after the incident.
Details of the sentence and legal basis
The TJD-SP’s decision was based on two crucial articles from Código Brasileiro of Justiça Desportiva. The defender was charged with article 243-G, which deals with discriminatory acts related to prejudice, and article 243-F, which deals with insulting the honor of any person linked to sport. The combination of infractions resulted in the maximum penalty provided for the case at first instance.
It was determined that Gustavo Marques will serve a 12-match suspension, which practically ends his participation in the 2026 Campeonato Paulista and could impact the start of national competitions, depending on the conversion of the sentence. The severity of the punishment reflects the auditors’ understanding of the seriousness of the words addressed to the arbitration official.
Complementing the sporting penalty, a fine of R$30,000 was imposed on the player. The amount must be paid in full and, according to recent court rulings, part of these resources is usually allocated to charities or social projects linked to sport, although the exact destination of this amount has yet to be approved.
Remember the incident in the classic
The event giving rise to the complaint occurred on February 21, 2026, during the confrontation between Corinthians and Red Bull Bragantino. Após the team from
In the match summary, referee Daiane Muniz reported that, upon being expelled, The phrase “go fold laundry”, mentioned in the report, was the central point of the accusation of sexism.
The repercussion was immediate. Ainda in the mixed zone and in post-game interviews, journalists questioned the athlete’s conduct, while images from the television broadcast corroborated the lip reading of the moment of the offense. The attitude was classified as incompatible with the professionalism required in elite football.
The red card received in the game, now added to the court’s suspension, leaves the Bragantino coach’s defensive system lacking for the final stretch of the group stage and the state knockout stage.
Institutional positioning of the club
Red Bull Bragantino did not wait for the TJD’s judgment to take internal measures. In an official note released shortly after confirming the content of the summary, the board of directors of Massa Bruta strongly condemned the attitude of its employee, reiterating that the club values respect and equality in the work environment and in society.
As an administrative disciplinary measure, the club imposed a fine corresponding to 50% of the athlete’s wages. Além of the payroll deduction, it was informed that the amount collected will be fully donated to an Organização Não Governamental (NGO) that works to empower women and combat gender-based violence, demonstrating an attempt at social reparation beyond speech.
Athlete’s manifestation
Gustavo Marques used his social networks to speak out about what happened even before the trial. In a text published on his official profiles, the defender admitted the mistake, claiming to be “hot-headed” due to the circumstances of the match and the adverse result that was expected against Corinthians.
He directly apologized to Daiane Muniz and all the women who felt offended, citing his mother and wife as life references to state that his behavior on the field does not reflect his personal values outside the four lines. The defense tried to use the apology as a mitigating factor in court, but the gravity of the words weighed more on the auditors’ decision.
Impact on the female arbitration scenario
The exemplary punishment applied to The TJD-SP’s decision sends a clear message to athletes, coaching staffs and officials that gender-based misogyny and disrespect will not be treated simply as “game stuff” or minor infractions. The female presence on the whistle, which is already a technically consolidated reality, now has stronger legal support against verbal violence, creating an environment of greater security so that professionals like Daiane Muniz can exercise their authority without being targets of archaic stereotypes that attempt to diminish their competence based on gender. Especialistas in sports law point out that this case could become jurisprudence for future trials in other states of Brasil.
Next steps in the process
The defense of Red Bull Bragantino and player Gustavo Marques can still appeal the decision to Pleno of TJD-SP or, ultimately, to Superior Tribunal of The legal strategy must focus on trying to reduce the game penalty, aiming to release the athlete for the remainder of the season.
As long as there is no suspensive effect, the penalty begins to take effect immediately. The team’s coach will have to look for solutions in the squad to make up for the absence of the starter in defense, at a time when the Brazilian football calendar does not allow for many errors or prolonged absences.
