Palmeiras and their fans celebrated on Wednesday, having gained the point they needed to seal what would be a record 12th Brazilian title, but Botafogo owner and president John Textor is not ready to concede defeat just yet.
On Wednesday, the final day of the season, the American businessman called on Brazil’s Superior Court of Sports Justice (STJD) to either annul the results of six Brasileiro Serie A games or order them to be replayed in January because of possible match-fixing.
Less than a day later, the court rejected the request, saying Botafogo’s reasons for such radical action.
There's an old saying in Brazilian soccer: some things only happen to Botafogo. The club of World Cup winning greats like Mané Garrincha, Jairzinho and Mário Zagallo squandered a 13-point lead in the Brazilian league and now Palmeiras is very likely to defend its title on Wednesday. It's the first time a team has lost such a big advantage in the South American nation's top flight.
After 28 years, it looked like Botafogo's Brazilian league title drought was finally ending, thanks to a crackling start to the season and a huge cash infusion from US magnate turned football investor John Textor.