Brazilian player sacked over drink driving death

Brazilian club Palmeiras have released 20-year-old centre back Renan Victor da Silva as he faces drink driving charges.

The Sao Paulo club have confirmed the sacking of the former Brazil under-17 international, citing just cause. The player killed a motorcyclist while driving drunk and without a license.

Renan had been playing on loan at Red Bull Bragantino this season, but the club from Braganca Paulista immediately terminated the deal when they found out.

The accident took place in that very city in Sao Paulo state. The car being driven by Renan crossed over into the wrong lane and hit a 38-year-old man on a motorbike head on.

The motorcyclist was killed by the impact and Renan will face a charge of culpable homicide. He is currently released after paying a bail of almost 50,000 dollars.

Facing ten years

The promising young player could be facing up to ten years behind bars. His lack of a license and state of drunkenness are aggravating factors which have led to the charge despite there being no intent to kill.

In 2019 Renan became a world champion at U17 level with Brazil and went on to play a role in Palmeiras' back-to-back Copa Libertadores triumphs upon his ensuing promotion to the first team.

Despite playing 41 times for Palmeiras in 2021, at the beginning of the 2022 season he was loaned out to Red Bull Bragantino in a bid to get more regular minutes under his belt.