João Palhinha Case (Portuguese Field of Play Doctrine)

We have already spoken about this case in a previous edition,[1] and it has had procedural developments with the Portuguese Constitutional Court.

Background to the Case

On 26 January 2021, in the 15^th round of the Primeira Liga, in the match between Sporting Clube de Portugal and Boavista Futebol Clube, João Palhinha, who was playing for Sporting Clube de Portugal at the time, picked up his fifth yellow card during the match.

The Disciplinary Regulations for Competitions Organised by the Portuguese League for the 2020-2021 season (RDCOLP) stipulated in Article 164.7 that a player who accumulated a fifth yellow card in the same season and in different matches would be penalised, as a minor disciplinary offence, with a one-match suspension and the payment of a fine of EUR 153.00.

Assessment of the case by the judicial bodies of the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF)

As a result, the day...

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