Female Futsal player Suspended for 5 Years After Horror Tackle
Brazil’s controversial punishment against a female futsal player has ignited nationwide debate, after she was banned for 5 years over a horrifying tackle and assault. Lara do Nascimento Costa was sanctioned by the Futsal Sports League of Ceará after an incident during a match in Fortaleza on July 22.
Videos taken during the game shows Costa’s opponent, Ana Julia Alencar, left face-down on the floor after a hard tackle. Costa then went ahead to roughly kick Alencar in the head twice before throwing a punch at another player who tried to intervene.
The Ceará league responded by exerting a ban on Costa from all women’s football competitions in the city for 5 years, and her team, As Resenhas, was also excluded from the remainder of the season. Alencar is reported to be in good health following the assault.
The severity of the punishment has split opinion among people online, with many arguing it sets a necessary precedent for player safety, while others question whether football bodies have the authority to hand down such harsh sanction. Costa is also facing criminal charges over the incident, according to reports.
