Corinthians midfielder equals 31-year unwanted club record

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Central do Timão

·25 November 2025

Corinthians midfielder equals 31-year unwanted club record

By Fabio Luigi / Central do Timão Editorial Team

On the evening of last Sunday (23), Corinthians was defeated 3-0 by Cruzeiro at the Mineirão Stadium, in a match valid for the 35th round of the Brazilian Championship. The result left the Alvinegro stagnant in tenth place on the table with 45 points (12 wins, nine draws, and 14 losses – 38 goals scored and 42 conceded).

Towards the end of the match, midfielder José Martínez, who had come on midway through the second half, was sent off for the fourth time in the 2025 season, something that hadn't happened since 1994. In that year, former midfielder and Corinthians idol, Marcelinho Carioca, received the same number of red cards in matches against União São João (Paulistão), São Paulo (Paulistão), Criciúma (Brasileirão), and Paraná (Brasileirão).

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Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Agência Corinthians

The survey was published by Meu Timão in partnership with journalist Celso Unzelte. In yesterday's match, the Venezuelan was sent off at the 38th minute of the second half after elbowing midfielder Matheus Pereira in the midfield. Subsequently, referee Alex Gomes Stefano gave a red card to the number 70 after a VAR review.

This was the second expulsion of the midfielder in just 18 days. He had also been sent off by referee Edina Alves Batista in the 2-1 defeat against RB Bragantino on November 5, at the Cícero de Souza Marques Stadium, for the 32nd round. Earlier in the year, Martínez was also punished in the same way after receiving a second yellow in the 1-0 victory over Ponte Preta in Campinas, during the group stage of the Paulistão.

In the state championship final, José Martínez was also sent off after slapping Palmeiras' reserve goalkeeper Marcelo Lomba in the face. As a result, the midfielder averages approximately one expulsion every 12 games with the Corinthians jersey this season. The midfielder was signed by Corinthians in the second half transfer window last year after a stint in North American football. Since then, he has been an important piece in the team's surge in the last edition of the Brasileirão and was a starter in the 2025 Paulista Championship victory against Palmeiras in Itaquera.

With the expulsion, José Martínez is a confirmed absence for Corinthians in the match next Sunday (30), at 4 pm (Brasília time), against Botafogo, at the Neo Química Arena, for the 35th round of the Brazilian Championship. Besides him, the Alvinegro may have other absences, who are still recovering from injuries: goalkeeper Hugo Souza (muscle injury), left-back Matheus Bidu (right knee pain), midfielder Maycon (tendinopathy in the right knee), and forward Memphis Depay (knee sprain).

Overall, Martínez has one goal and two assists in 64 games with the Corinthians jersey (47 as a starter), with 34 wins, 11 draws, and 19 losses – almost 59% success rate.

Marcelinho Carioca's expulsions for Corinthians in 1994:

1) 16/03/1994 – Corinthians 1 x 0 União São João – Paulistão 19942) 08/05/1994 – Corinthians 1 x 1 São Paulo – Paulistão 19943) 13/08/1994 – Criciúma 1 x 1 Corinthians – Brasileirão 19944) 02/11/1994 – Paraná 1 x 1 Corinthians – Brasileirão 1994

José Martínez's expulsions for Corinthians in 2025:

1) 29/01/2025 – Ponte Preta 0 x 1 Corinthians – Paulistão 20252) 27/03/2025 – Corinthians 0 x 0 Palmeiras – Paulistão 20253) 05/11/2025 – Red Bull Bragantino 2 x 1 Corinthians – Brasileirão 20254) 23/11/2025 – Cruzeiro 3 x 0 Corinthians – Brasileirão 2025

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