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Marquinhos quits Brazil's Corinthians after family threats

Corinthians defender Marquinhos left the club on Tuesday after his family was threatened following a foul he committed that led to a penalty in a loss to rival Sao Paulo in the state championship last weekend.

Marquinhos told club directors and coach Emerson Leao that he will not play again for the four-time national champion in order to protect his relatives, club spokesman Marcio Muramoto said on Tuesday.

"I need tranquility to work," Marquinhos told reporters. "I have a seven-month-old daughter and my wife is scared."

The 24-year-old defender badly misplayed a ball inside the area, forcing him to foul Sao Paulo midfielder Lenilson.

Goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni converted the penalty kick to give Sao Paulo a 2-0 lead en route to a 3-1 victory at Morumbi stadium on Sunday.

Fans jeered Marquinhos, blaming him for the defeat. Corinthians is winless against Sao Paulo in nearly four years.

Marquinhos said fans made calls to his mother and said they would kill him or harm his family if he didn't leave Corinthians.

"How can I continue playing for Corinthians like this?" he asked.

Marquinhos also said fans stayed in front of his mother's house on Sunday yelling and complaining about him.

"He said he is tired of receiving threats. People are calling his wife and his mother," Leao told reporters.

"He asked us to facilitate his exit and we are going to help him," he said.

Leao said Marquinhos had been harassed after other games.

"He would start in the next match," Leao said. "It's sad that the player felt coerced to make a decision like this."

Marquinhos made the headlines in 2005 after exchanging punches with former teammate Carlos Tevez of Argentina during training.

Marquinhos -- a second-string defender at the time -- left the field with blood running from his nose, but both players later apologized and made peace.

Marquinhos will continue training with Corinthians until he can transfer to another team. Club directors said they will try to move the defender as soon as possible.

Marquinhos debuted with Corinthians in 2000, scoring four goals in 80 matches.

He spent a season with Atletico Mineiro on loan shortly after the fight with Tevez.

Corinthians, which has won a record 25 state titles, is fifth in the 20-team tournament with 15 points from eight matches. It plays at Paulista on Saturday.

Only the top four clubs will reach the semifinal round.
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