FC Porto and Portugal defender Pepe is facing a possible ban of up to two years for kicking a Sporting Lisbon official, according to reports.
On Friday, the 38-year-old was at the centre of the chaotic scenes involving Porto and Sporting after their heated Primeira Liga clash.
Shortly before the final whistle, Pepe was on the end of a high boot from an opposing player. A massive brawl then ensued between both sets of players and coaching staff.
The referee sent off a total of four players. Sporting pair Bruno Tabata and Joao Palhinha saw red, alongside Porto’s Pepe and Agustin Marchesin. It is worth noting that the referee had already blown the full-time whistle by this stage.
Read: Footage shows Porto steward attacking Sporting player Matheus Reis in midst of crazy brawl
Three players have subsequently received bans from Portuguese competitions. Palhinha will miss three games, with Marchesin banned for two.
Sebastian Coates, meanwhile, who saw red during normal time, will receive the standard one-match suspension. The former Liverpool defender took an incredible two minutes to leave the pitch after being shown his marching orders, to the dismay of the Porto fans.
The ban that could befall Pepe and Tabata
In the cases of Pepe and Tabata, the pair have been provisionally suspended for two matches. However, the consequences could still be far more severe.
That is because, according to Portuguese outlet A Bola, the referee’s report stated that Pepe kicked an opposing director. The director in question is not named, but the same report claims it is Hugo Viana. The 39-year-old is a former international teammate of Pepe, having collected 29 caps for Portugal.
According to Portuguese disciplinary regulations, the incident is classed as a “very serious disciplinary offence”. As a result, the authorities could ban Pepe for between two months and two years.
Tabata, meanwhile, was said to have pushed an opposing director. That falls under the same category.
Pepe’s previous ill-advised moments
Most football fans will remember Pepe for his time at Real Madrid. At the Bernabeu, he was one of the most aggressive and dominant centre-backs in world football. He became renowned as a near-unstoppable force and helped Real achieve domestic and continental success.
However, he also tended to be in the headlines for the wrong reasons. In 2009, the Portuguese defender was banned for 10 games after committing violent conduct on two Getafe players during a La Liga fixture.
During a 2014 World Cup clash against Germany, he was sent off for headbutting Thomas Muller. Pepe also once stamped on Lionel Messi’s hand during an El Clasico match, although he later stated the act was “unintentional“.
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However, his latest potential ban could top the lot in terms of severity. Pepe and Porto will hope that the authorities give him the lightest possible punishment, whilst Tabata and Sporting will be hoping likewise.
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