Liga Deportiva Eusébio Bans Futsal Player for Five Years After Head Attack

The match between RDJ Esport Feminino and As Resenhas was underway in the second half with RDJ leading 1-0 when the game dissolved into violence. According to reports, the confrontation began when a player for As Resenhas, identified as Lara, ventured into the opponent’s half up to three-quarters of the field. She encountered a rival player, Júlia, from RDJ, who recovered the ball and began a counterattack. As Júlia prepared for a long stride to leave Lara behind, Lara slid into her from behind just above the midfield line without touching the ball, committing a clear foul that was reclaimed by the spectators.

While Júlia lay face down on the court, the official reported that Lara stepped back and kicked the victim in the head twice. The victim covered her head with her hands. The brutality of the attack triggered an immediate melee, as teammates, substitutes, and coaching staff from both sides flooded the court. A second RDJ player, BK, attempted to defend her teammate and pushed the aggressor, but was struck in the face by Lara during the chaos. The referee blew the whistle to stop the action, but a crowd filled the court. Because of the incidents registered within the field of play, the referee resolved to end the match before the regulation time was completed.

The Five-Year Ban and Team Expulsion

The response from local authorities was swift. Lara has been banned from all league-organized activities and is disqualified from participating in any official competition for five years.

After analyzing the referee’s report, the official match record, the broadcast images and the clarifications presented by the parties involved, a decision was made based on the Competition Regulations and the CBJD (Brazilian Code of Sports Justice), applying the corresponding disciplinary sanctions to those responsible for the actions committed. Liga Deportiva Eusébio

The sanctions extended beyond the individual player. The league expelled the entire As Resenhas team from the municipal championship. Additional disciplinary measures were handed down to other participants of the fight who contributed to the disorder on the court.

Medical Status of Júlia and BK

The severity of the head kicks left Júlia incapacitated on the floor for several seconds. She eventually managed to sit up, though with clear discomfort in her head. While she showed signs of pain in her leg and head, Radija Nascimento, president of RDJ Esport, confirmed that the player was discharged from the hospital a few hours later and is recovering at home in good health.

Nascimento also confirmed that BK, the teammate who received a punch to the face, is likewise in good health. The club repudiated what happened and expressed a strong desire to prevent such violence from returning to the sport.

It is a very unfortunate situation that we would never want to witness on a sports court (…) The RDJ Sports Project will continue to take all necessary measures to ensure that incidents like this do not happen again and that our athletes have the security and respect they deserve. Radija Nascimento, President of RDJ Esport

Municipal Response from Eusébio

The local government viewed the incident as a direct contradiction to the values of amateur athletics. Municipal authorities also remarked on the need to guarantee security and respect within sporting competitions.

We guarantee investments and a regular calendar for amateur sports because we believe in the transformative power of sport in our society." City Council of Eusébio, via Sejuv

Because the match was part of the opening of the Municipal Women’s Futsal Championship of Eusébio, the incident occurred under the scrutiny of both live spectators and a broadcast. The incident was captured on video by one of the spectators in the Joaquim Gregório Gymnasium. These broadcast images, along with social media videos, provided the primary evidence used by the disciplinary commission to justify the length of the five-year suspension.