Augusto Melo takes legal action to try to stop the Corinthians expulsion process
By Larissa Beppler and Henrique Vigliotti | Central do Timão newsroom
The former president of Corinthians Augusto Melo filed a declaratory action to nullify the administrative disciplinary procedure, accompanied by a request for urgent protection, to try to suspend the process that could result in his expulsion from the club's membership.
The action was filed against Corinthians and against the acting president of the Deliberative Council Leonardo Pantaleão, on the eve of the body's extraordinary meeting, scheduled for this Monday (1st), which will analyze the opinion of the Ethics and Disciplinary Committee in favor of the dismissal of the former representative.
Photo: José Manoel Idalgo/Agência Corinthians
In the document, Augusto maintains that the disciplinary process is marked by a series of irregularities that, according to his defense, compromise the validity of the entire procedure. The former president argues that there was a violation of due legal process, the adversary system, broad defense and the duty of impartiality of the bodies responsible for handling the case.
According to the petition, the disciplinary representation initially attributed to the former director alleged acts of violence and aggression related to the events recorded at Parque São Jorge on May 31, 2025. However, the defense claims that the accusatory narrative would have been changed throughout the process, later supporting accusations of intimidation and embarrassment against the club's then interim president Osmar Stabile.
One of the main arguments presented is the alleged lack of individualization of the conduct attributed to Augusto Melo. According to the defense, there would not be a formal accusatory document in the file capable of objectively delimiting which acts had been carried out by the former president, nor which statutory provision would have been effectively violated.
The action also questions the procedural approach adopted by the Ethics and Discipline Commission. The lawyers allege that Augusto would not have been regularly summoned to participate in the trial session that recommended his expulsion, which would have prevented the presentation of an oral defense and the monitoring of the proceedings. Furthermore, they maintain that there was no formal communication of the outcome of the trial nor availability of the respective minutes of the session.
Another point raised refers to the production of evidence. The defense claims to have requested full access to the images related to the facts investigated and to carry out other steps considered essential to clarify the case. According to the petition, such requests were not formally assessed, which could constitute a restriction of defense.
The document also points out an alleged conflict of interest in the conduct of the procedure. The argument maintains that Leonardo Pantaleão accumulated incompatible functions, acting simultaneously as president of the Ethics and Discipline Committee, president of the Deliberative Council and the club's lawyer on issues related to the facts investigated. For the defense, this circumstance compromises the impartiality required in sanctioning proceedings.
The petition also questions the very validity of the disciplinary procedure adopted by Corinthians. According to lawyers, the club uses a document called "Of Procedures in Disciplinary Processes", dated 2015, without documentation having been presented proving its regular approval, publication or entry into force.
Regarding the merits of the accusation, Augusto Melo denies having committed any conduct capable of justifying the application of the maximum penalty provided for in Corinthians' statutes. The defense claims that his presence on the club's premises, on May 31, 2025, was authorized by the then acting president and accompanied by the interim management's own security team.
According to the text, the club's internal images would demonstrate that there was no invasion, violence, intimidation or any behavior capable of characterizing an offense to social sporting morals or damage to the entity's institutional image.
In addition to requesting the entire nullity of the disciplinary procedure, Augusto Melo asks that the Court immediately suspend any deliberation related to his expulsion until the final judgment of the action.
The case now depends on analysis by the Judiciary, which must decide on the urgent request presented by the defense before the Deliberative Council meeting called to evaluate the opinion of the Ethics Committee.
Corinthians News
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Source: Timao Central