During the 22nd round of the Brazilian championship match between Coritiba and Chapecoense, 29-year-old center-back Jacy scored an apparent goal before tumbling down a stadium tunnel entrance while attempting to celebrate with supporters, according to match reports.
The Incident at Couto Pereira Stadium
Television broadcasts captured the awkward fall, showing the player attempting to regain his footing before stumbling and collapsing again near the edge of the descent.
VAR Intervention and Match Outcome
To compound the misfortune, video assistant referees reviewed the sequence and determined that Jacy had drifted into an offside position before scoring, prompting the match officials to nullify the goal entirely. Medical staff rushed to the edge of the pitch to administer treatment to the defender following his tumble down the stadium steps.
Despite the severity of the fall, Jacy initially managed to return to the pitch and completed the remainder of the first half. However, coaching staff opted to withdraw him just two minutes after the interval. Coritiba ultimately secured a 2-1 victory over Chapecoense, a result that leaves the visitors anchored at the bottom of the league standings.
Medical Status and a Familiar Stadium Hazard
Post-match assessments provided encouraging news regarding the defender’s physical condition. Jacy was later spotted sitting on the team substitutes’ bench with an ice pack strapped to his ankle, avoiding any severe long-term damage from the steep stadium drop.
The architectural layout at Couto Pereira has caught players off guard before. During a local derby in 2014, former Coritiba forward Joel suffered an identical accident at the exact same stadium tunnel entrance after scoring a decisive goal against São Paulo, falling victim to the unpaved drop-off in the pitchside architecture.
