Victim almost lost his
head!
An Atletico Mineiro defender was suspended 120 days for tackling
West Ham target Kerlon as he attempted his "seal dribble," in which
he heads the ball while running past opponents.
Brazil's top sports tribunal decided late Wednesday to suspend
Coelho for leveling Kerlon in a 4-3 loss to Cruzeiro in a Brazilian
league match Sept. 16.
Coelho was immediately ejected by the referee, and the play stirred
a controversy in Brazil.
Some players say the move is disrespectful because it breaks
soccer's unwritten code, and that Kerlon uses the dribble to show
off. But fans love it, and most soccer analysts stood by Kerlon's
move.
The 19-year-old Kerlon said he will continue using the dribble when
he feels it's necessary.
Coelho could have been suspended for more than a year.
"I didn't expect a suspension this long," he told the UOL Web site.
"We'll see if we can appeal it."
