He Flamengo came back this Saturday 2-1 to Criciúma in the Brazilian league, with a goal from Pedro and another from ‘Gabigol’ from a penalty awarded after a rival player interrupted play with a second ball that was inside the area. In an absolutely unusual play, midfielder Gustavo Barreto intercepted a clear incursion into the Everton area ‘Cebolinha’ by kicking a second ball that had entered the field against the ball that the former Benfica player was controlling.
The referee automatically blew the whistle for a penalty and showed Barreto a yellow card when the score was 1-1 and the clock was ticking down to the 85th minute at the Mané Garrincha stadium in Brasilia. The decision by referee Maguielson Lima Barbosa sparked an angry protest from Criciúma players and a wide debate in the sports press and on social media.
The referee did justice according to the rules, as a direct free kick must be awarded when a player “throws an object in the direction of the ball, against an opponent or against a member of the refereeing team.” However, some commentators argue that the referee should have stopped the match when he saw that a second ball was affecting the correct development of the game.
The VAR did not intervene to review the play and Gabigol converted the penalty that gave the three points to the team managed by former Brazilian coach Tite. Before that, Pedro neutralised the opening goal by defender Rodrigo minutes after having missed another penalty.
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The match marked the return of midfielders Nico de la Cruz and Giorgian de Arrascaeta to the powerful Rio team, who were absent after playing in the Copa América in the United States with the Uruguay national team.
With three points from the 18th round of the Brazilian Championship, Flamengo remains in the top half of the standings, provisionally occupying second place behind Botafogo, who still have a game to play.
