PARIS: SC Bastia’s Brazilian striker Brandao was held in custody for several hours yesterday and will face charges following his headbutt on Paris Saint-Germain’s Thiago Motta, a court source said.
The 34-year-old will appear in court on November 3 on charges of committing premeditated assault in a sporting arena and causing his victim to be signed off work for seven days.
The Paris Public Prosecutor’s department had launched a preliminary investigation into the incident last Saturday at the Parc des Princes, which was filmed by CCTV cameras inside the tunnel.
“This is just the logical next step in the process,” said Brandao’s lawyer Olivier Martin, attempting to play down the situation.
He added that Brandao “firmly disputed having committed the offence in a premeditated manner” and that the length of sick leave reportedly required by Motta “must be disputed.”
If the offence is determined to have been premeditated, however, the Brazilian could be handed a prison sentence rather than a simple fine.
It is the latest piece of bad news for Brandao, who on Thursday was provisionally suspended until September 18 by the French league (LFP) for his headbutt on Motta at the end of last Saturday’s Ligue 1 clash at the Parc des Princes, which PSG won 2-0.
AFP
