Corinthians v Internacional: officials protest, demand referees' arrest

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Central do Timão

·2 de octubre de 2025

Corinthians v Internacional: officials protest, demand referees' arrest

By Henrique Pereira / Central do Timão Editorial Team

The match report for the clash between Corinthians and Internacional, held last Wednesday, reinforced the criticisms from both clubs’ directors against the refereeing of Rodrigo José Pereira de Lima on the field and Gilberto Rodrigues Castro Júnior on VAR.

The document, signed by the main referee, recorded protests from Internacional in the first half and from Corinthians in the second half. Coach Dorival Júnior, who was sent off during the game, continued arguing with the refereeing team in the mixed zone after the final whistle.

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Photo: Ricardo Duarte / Internacional

“I also inform that, after the end of the match, when the refereeing team was still in the center of the field, Corinthians’ football director, Fábio Soldado, invaded the pitch, accompanied by an unidentified individual, who addressed the refereeing team with the following words: ‘shameful, you are a scoundrel.’ Then, this individual was restrained by the police and removed from the field.”, wrote the referee in the match report.

“I also state that, after the end of the second half, already in the mixed zone, Corinthians’ president, Osmar Stabile, along with the executive football director, Fábio Soldado, approached the refereeing team in an agitated and disrespectful manner, repeatedly saying the following words: ‘this is a disgrace, what you did here.’”, he continued.

In the first half, Corinthians opened the scoring with a header from Gui Negão, after a cross from Matheuzinho. The second goal, scored by Hugo Farias, was annulled by VAR for a marginal offside. Even so, the team that complained the most in the first half was Internacional. The team from Rio Grande do Sul found the net in the 39th minute with a shot from Óscar Romero, but the play was ruled out for offside by Luis Otávio, who allegedly interfered with goalkeeper Hugo Souza. The report recorded that Internacional directors confronted the refereeing team during halftime.

“I inform that after the end of the first half, Internacional’s president, Alessandro Pires Barcellos, the football director, Andres Nicolas D’alessandro, and the legal vice-president, Jorge Oliveira Filho, came to the refereeing team in an agitated and disrespectful manner and offended us: ‘you again hurting us, you scoundrel.’ I emphasize that police intervention was necessary to restrain the Internacional directors. Upon returning to the field for the start of the second half, Internacional’s performance analyst, Juan Nicolas Romanazzi, insulted my assistant number 2, Francisco Chaves Bizerra Junior, with the following words: ‘you son of a bit@'”, the referee recorded.

In the second half, the mood shifted. Corinthians maintained their 1-0 lead until the 54th minute. The game was supposed to end at 50 minutes, but continued with more stoppage time than expected. It was during this period that the controversial incident occurred: the referee awarded a penalty by Cacá on Bruno Henrique, a highly disputed call. The penalty changed the result and triggered strong outrage from Timão.

Dorival Júnior received a red card for vehemently protesting, after already having received a third yellow. According to the report, he gestured and cursed at the refereeing team, refusing to leave the field. His agitation continued after the final whistle: “you should leave here in handcuffs.” The report also states that police support was needed to control the situation.

After the match, Osmar Stabile, Fabinho Soldado, and Dorival Júnior gave interviews condemning the performance of Rodrigo José Pereira de Lima. With the draw, Corinthians reached 30 points and currently occupy 13th place in the table.

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