The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) released its official VAR audio and video analysis regarding the controversial penalty and red card issued to Jorginho during the 29th round of the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A match between Santos and Flamengo, ge.globo.com reported. The high-stakes fixture at the Vila Belmiro on October 8, 2026, ended in a 2-2 draw after Flamengo surrendered a two-goal lead.
Disputed Officiating Decisions at Vila Belmiro
Referee Anderson Daronco and VAR official Rodolpho Toski Marques faced intense scrutiny following the match. According to match reports from Clube de Regatas del Flamengo, the officiating crew missed a clear red card in the first half when Santos player Barreal delivered a high-studs challenge to Carrascal’s lower leg. Daronco issued only a yellow card, and the VAR team did not recommend a review.
The first half was marked by a wide-open game as Danilo advanced and his shot deflected off Veríssimo before striking the post, after which Pedro fired a close-range rebound saved by goalkeeper Diógenes in a miraculous stop, while Samuel Lino also had opportunities for Flamengo and Gabigol threatened three times for Santos. The turning point arrived in the second half when Flamengo held a two-goal advantage through strikes from Danilo and Lucas Paquetá. Following an arm contact by Jorginho, Daronco initially awarded a standard foul and a yellow card. However, after a lengthy VAR intervention, the decision was upgraded to a penalty kick and a straight red card for Jorginho, leaving Flamengo down to ten men.
Contrasting Interpretations of the Rulebook
The severity of the red card sparked a fierce debate among analysts and club officials. Commentary pointed out that if a penalty is marked for a handball that is not considered deliberate or intentional, the card should be dropped; if it is a promising attack, it is without a card; if it is a clear goal-scoring opportunity, it is a yellow card. The analysis argued that because Flamengo had defenders positioned close to goalkeeper Rossi, the red card application misapplied the rule.
Conversely, the official stance maintained during the review process validated the intervention as a direct consequence of an unnatural arm position that blocked a goal-bound trajectory on the penalty line. Neymar capitalized on the subsequent momentum shift, converting two penalties to spark Santos’ comeback in front of a jubilant home crowd, with his last goals having come on July 25 in a 2-2 draw against Chapecoense when he also scored twice.
Flamengo contests high number of red cards
The disciplinary numbers from the fixture highlight a grievance raised by Flamengo's management. Flamengo issued a formal statement highlighting that across 29 matches in the current Brasileirao campaign, Flamengo has accumulated seven red cards, ranking them as the second-most penalized team in the competition despite committing very few fouls overall.
The prolonged VAR check also set an unwanted benchmark for the league. The match experienced a stoppage lasting 9 minutes and 56 seconds, marking the longest single VAR review interruption in the history of the Brasileirao and severely disrupting the flow of the title race’s closing stretch.
What happened in the Santos versus Flamengo match?
What was the final score of the Santos versus Flamengo match?
The 29th-round Brasileirao fixture finished in a 2-2 draw on October 8, 2026, at the Vila Belmiro, with Danilo and Lucas Paquetá scoring for Flamengo and Neymar netting two penalties for Santos.
Why was Jorginho expelled during the second half?
Jorginho received a red card after a VAR review determined his arm made contact with the ball in an unnatural position on the penalty line, leading referee Anderson Daronco to overturn his initial yellow card and award a penalty kick.
How many red cards has Flamengo received in the Brasileirao?
Flamengo accumulated seven red cards across 29 matches in the 2026 tournament, placing them second overall in the league’s disciplinary expulsion rankings.
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