OffsAIde
·13 August 2026
Matheus Henrique reveals referee’s words after foul on Bruno Henrique in Cruzeiro v Flamengo

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·13 August 2026

Cruzeiro midfielder Matheus Henrique said Argentine referee Yael Falcón told him his challenge on Bruno Henrique lacked intensity during the Copa Libertadores last-16 first leg. According to Globo.com, he admitted he feared a red card before the conversation calmed him.
The flashpoint came on 10 minutes of the first half at the Mineirão, when Matheus arrived late and caught Bruno Henrique’s shin with his studs. He was booked for the foul, then the VAR, the Argentine Hector Paletta, reviewed the play and chose not to send Falcón to the monitor.
Matheus said the referee told him the contact only grazed the Flamengo forward and that the incident had already been checked. He was relieved not to be dismissed.
Former referee and TV analyst Paulo Cesar Oliveira argued the Cruzeiro man should have been sent off.
The caution was Matheus’s third in this year’s Libertadores, which means he is suspended for the return leg at the Maracanã.
Source: Globo.com
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