Corinthians to face Flamengo with referee at centre of recent controversies | OneFootball

Corinthians host Flamengo at Neo Química Arena at 20:30 on Sunday in the eighth round of the Campeonato Brasileiro, with Rodrigo José Pereira de Lima appointed to officiate.

According to Meu Timao, the 39-year-old will be assisted by Bruno Boschilia and Francisco Chaves Bezerra Júnior, with Jonathan Benkenstein Pinheiro as fourth official and Wagner Reway on VAR.

Lima has taken charge of nine Corinthians matches, in which the team recorded four wins, two draws and three defeats. He has shown 28 yellow cards to Corinthians players, awarded three penalties against them and issued one red card to the club.

This will be his second Corinthians assignment in the 2026 Brasileiro. The first was on 19 February, a 1-0 win over Athletico-PR under Dorival Júnior, secured by Rodrigo Garro. Since then, Corinthians have gone six matches without a victory.

Despite that win, his display drew criticism for the amount of added time and inconsistent foul calls. He wrote in his report that he had been threatened by Lucas Silvestre, Dorival’s son and assistant. Hours later, Lucas said the account was false, having been sent off and later handed a three-match STJD ban last week.

Controversy also followed the 1-1 draw at Internacional at Beira-Rio in October 2025, when a Hugo Farias goal was disallowed amid inconclusive images and a last-gasp penalty was converted by Carbonero. Dorival Júnior protested strongly and was restrained by security, while he, Fabinho Soldado and president Osmar Stabile were reported to the STJD but all were cleared.

Corinthians now seek a win under Lima that could lift them from ninth to seventh, depending on other results.

Source: Meu Timao