SAO PAULO (AP) Fluminense could avoid relegation in the Brazilian league after a rival team used a suspended player in the final round last weekend, marking the latest chaos to hit football in the country hosting next year's World Cup.
The news that an off-field ruling could alter the competition's result comes days after images of fan violence were broadcast across the world. It also comes just weeks after a crane collapse killed two workers and damaged part of the stadium being built for the World Cup opener in Sao Paulo.
Brazil's sports tribunal this week will analyze a complaint that Portuguesa breached rules, which could cost the team four points and allow Fluminense to stay in the first division. Fluminense ended the tournament in the relegation zone, but would surpass Portuguesa in the 20-team standings if the points are docked.
Fluminense won its last match on Sunday but that was not enough to avoid becoming the first defending Brazilian champion to be relegated. Four-time Brazilian champion Vasco da Gama also dropped down to the second division, but it would not benefit from Portuguesa's punishment.
Vasco is trying to remain in the top flight through a different loophole. It wants to annul its 5-1 loss against Atletico Paranaense because of the fan violence that forced the referee to stop the game and then re-start it 73 minutes later 13 minutes more than rules allow.