New scandal involving Kennedy, Boca’s executioner in the Libertadores: the reason why Fluminense removed him from the squad for an indefinite period

John Kennedy entered the 80th minute of the Copa Libertadores final with the result tied 1-1 between Boca and Fluminense and changed the definition in every sense at the Maracaná. His goal midway through the first half of overtime gave him the nickname of Xeneize’s executioner and headed Flu’s first continental crown in the tournament, but what was thought to be a step to stardom became a step off the precipice.

At the end of April, the 21-year-old attacker was separated from the professional squad for “acts of indiscipline” that occurred in the concentration prior to a match, a punishment also applied to young talents Alexsander (20), Arthur (19) and Kauã Elias (18). The pardon came to an end in the last hours and the quartet was going to be part of the delegation that beat Sampaio Corrêa (third division) this Wednesday 2-0 in the first leg of the third round of the Brazilian Cup. although Kennedy was removed from the trip due to another non-football incident.

In an institutional statement, Fluminense confirmed that it had reinstated the four players, but made a separate paragraph for the striker who gave him his first Libertadores: “The athlete John Kennedy had also been reinstated to the group on Monday, although he missed training on Sunday , but he was withdrawn again this Tuesday morning after arriving at training 1 hour and 20 minutes late and, from now on, his absence from the rest of the professional squad will be indefinite.”

The Fluminense statement

In this sense, the entity’s football director, Paulo Angioni, provided details in the run-up to the duel during the week in a conversation with Globo Esporte: “He is outside the delegation, but at the beginning he was included. Today (on Tuesday) he again had (a delay) of one hour and twenty, and that is not justifiable, that is why he is out. Furthermore, the coach, Fernando Diniz, stated his position after the domestic cup victory: “We will deal with this internally. The board has positioned itself as it should, truthfully and clearly. “We will deal with the rest internally.” It remains to be seen if he will return to consideration for the rematch on May 22 from 7 p.m. at the Maracaná for a place in the round of 16.

A few days after turning 22 years old (May 18), Kennedy registers 8 games in 2024, in which he scored a goal against Botafogo in the state tournament. It is worth remembering that he had been absent from many matches in the first part of the calendar because he played the Venezuela Pre-Olympic with the Brazilian Under 23 (Verdeamarelha lost the last match with Argentina and did not qualify for Paris 2024).

The previous disciplinary measure took place due to an event in the prelude to a match against Vasco da Gama with a 2-1 victory (he entered the 87th minute). It was his third and last clash in the current Brasileirao. The four people involved brought women into the concentration hotel and organized a party, which led to complaints from guests about annoying noises, according to Globo Esporte.

John Kennedy’s celebration in Fluminense’s 2-1 win over Boca (REUTERS/Sergio Moraes)

What happened brought about strong discontent among the coaching staff, the squad and the board, because they had decided to concentrate to avoid night outings in the days before the official matches.

John Kennedy has a history of disciplinary problems, which in 2022 led Fluminense to lower him to the Under 20 team and then transfer him to Ferroviario, a club that plays in the national third category. In March 2023, Diniz picked it up and played a total of 86 games with 19 goals and 6 assists for the Tricolor.

He has not yet added minutes in the current Copa Libertadores, in which his club leads Group A with 5 points after two draws against Alianza Lima and Cerro Porteño, added to a victory against Colo Colo.

MESSAGE FROM FLUMINENSE

Fluminense informs that the athletes Alexsander, Kauã Elias and Arthur were reinstated to the group and are at the disposal of the Technical Committee.

The athlete John Kennedy had also been reinstated to the group on Monday, although he missed training on Sunday, but he was withdrawn again this Tuesday morning after arriving at training 1h:20 late and, from now on, his absence from the rest of the professional staff will be indefinite.