Coritiba is sentenced to pay R$ 65 thousand to Athletico

Coritiba was sentenced by the Superior Court of Justice (STJ) to compensate Athletico Paranaense for offenses related to a campaign against violence in football and for acts of vandalism committed by fans in the Arena da Baixada. The decision of the Third Class involves approximately R$ 65,000 in compensation, being R$ 30,000 for moral damages and about R$ 35,000 for property damages.

The trial was unanimous and also held the former president of Coritiba, Samir Namur, responsible for the demonstrations considered offensive to the image of the rival club. The decision was released by STJ on Tuesday (10).

Understand the controversy that began in 2019

The judicial dispute originated in two clashes between Coritiba and Athletico during the Paranaense Championship of 2019.

At the time, Athletico had joined the Human Torture project, created by the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Paraná (MPPR) in 2018 with the aim of combating violence inside and outside the stadiums.

The initiative included measures to reduce fan conflicts, including restricting the entry of visiting fans with uniforms and props that identify their clubs.

Coritiba, meanwhile, expressed opposition to the campaign. During a classic, team players entered the field wearing T-shirts with messages that ironized the project.

In addition, then President Samir Namur gave an interview in which he compared Athletico’s adherence to the initiative to the practices of a fascist regime.

For the STJ, the demonstrations exceeded the limits of freedom of expression and configured offensive conduct in the image of the opposing institution.

Fans destroyed structures of the Arena da Baixada

The lawsuit also involved episodes of vandalism recorded during another classic disputed in the Arena da Baixada, in Curitiba.

According to the lawsuit, Coritiba fans damaged chairs, urinal partitions, toilet lids and other structures of the stadium belonging to Athletico.

For the events, Coritiba had already received a fine of R $ 4,000 applied by the Superior Court of Sports Justice (STJD).

In the ordinary courts, Athletico sought compensation for the material damages and compensation for the manifestations considered offensive.

Initially, the court recognized the right to compensation for property damage. Subsequently, the Court of Justice of Paraná (TJPR) reformed the judgment and dismissed the conviction.

The case reached STJ, which recognized civil liability and restored payment for damages to the club's assets.

STJ highlights responsibility of clubs for violence

The rapporteur of the process, Minister Ricardo Villas Bôas Cueva, stressed that the General Law of Sport, of 2023, establishes responsibilities for all those involved in the organization and realization of sporting events.

According to the understanding adopted at the trial, visiting clubs can also be held accountable for damage caused by their fans in the dependencies of the opposing stadiums.

The minister stressed that not every infraction committed by fans automatically generates responsibility for the club. However, in this case, it considered that there was omission of the institution and its leader in the circumstances analyzed.

The decision also took into account the General Regulation of Competitions of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), in force in 2019, which provided for the responsibility of the teams for the inadequate conduct of their fans.

Criticism has gone beyond the limits of freedom of expression

Another central point of the trial was the behavior of the former president of Coritiba in the face of the campaign to combat violence.

For the rapporteur, comparing an initiative to promote peace in the stadiums to fascist practices has exceeded the limits of legitimate criticism.

The STJ highlighted that sports leaders have a responsibility to promote respect between clubs, athletes and fans.

In this context, the ministers understood that compensation for moral damage also has an educational character, seeking to discourage manifestations that can encourage violent rivalries.

The decision may have a bearing on Brazilian football

The understanding of STJ reinforces the possibility of accountability of visiting clubs for losses caused by their fans, especially when omission in the prevention of episodes of violence is identified.

The decision also sets limits for demonstrations by sports leaders when criticisms go beyond freedom of expression and strike the honor or image of opposing institutions.

The case was reviewed in Special Appeal No. 2,264,509/PR, judged on October 6, 2026, with disclosure of the decision by STJ on November 10.