CBF releases VAR audio from Flamengo v Botafogo controversy

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Coluna do Fla

·16 October 2025

CBF releases VAR audio from Flamengo v Botafogo controversy

Luiz Araújo was stepped on inside the box, the referees discussed and called nothing

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) released, on Wednesday (15), the VAR analysis audio of the controversial incident between Flamengo and Botafogo. In the material, however, you can hear the assistant stating that there was a stamp by Allan on Luiz Araújo's foot inside the box.

Check out the dialogue in the video referee's booth during the incident:

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Assistant: Better stop, Alex.
Assistant: The Flamengo player touches the ball and the Botafogo player just steps on his foot.
Assistant: It's inside the box.
Assistant: What's the on-field narrative?
Alex: Normal game contact, Ricardo. There was a side challenge with a low tackle that for me is not a foul. Analyze where the ball is, if possession was with defense or attack.
Assistant: I see very light contact. I don't see a clear stamp, he's going for the ball and didn't even have the possibility to continue. The play isn't impacted by this contact, correct?
Alex: Correct.
Assistant: All checked, play can continue. There is light contact that doesn't impact the sequence of play, he didn't even have a chance to get the ball further ahead, it was insignificant game contact.

In other words, even with a stamp inside the box, the assistant did not call Alex Gomes Stefano to the monitor for review. Thus, the on-field referee let play continue, with the score still 0-0.

Besides Alex, the refereeing team included assistants Rodrigo Figueiredo Henrique Correa (RJ) and Victor Hugo Imazu dos Santos (PR), fourth official Lucas Paulo Torezin (PR), VAR Rodolpho Toski Marques (PR), and VAR assistants Diogo Carvalho Silva (RJ) and Diego Pombo Lopez (BA).

How did the incident happen?

At 32 minutes of the first half, Luiz Araújo received the ball inside the box and was brought down by midfielder Allan, who stepped on the Flamengo player. PC de Oliveira, former referee and now refereeing commentator, stated that the foul should have been called.

Did it cause outrage at Flamengo?

Thus, Arrascaeta reflected on the current state of Brazilian football, as the referees have taken the spotlight. Then, Filipe Luís stated that the lack of consistency from the referees is frustrating, because it’s easy to call against Flamengo, but the opposite is difficult.

What does Flamengo have to worry about?

After thrashing Botafogo, however, Flamengo hopes that the players will be the protagonists on Sunday (19), against Palmeiras, in the clash of the Brasileirão leaders. The match kicks off at 4pm (Brasília time), at Maracanã, with full coverage by Coluna do Fla.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.