Globo pundit clears up Arrascaeta row in Flamengo v Bahia: “Not on” | OneFootball

Arrascaeta received a yellow card for taking off his shirt during a tribute to Oscar Schmidt

Flamengo beat Bahia 2-0 this Sunday (19). During the celebration of the opening goal, Arrascaeta paid tribute to basketball legend Oscar Schmidt, who recently passed away. The Uruguayan midfielder took off his shirt to show the number 14 and, as a result, received a yellow card. Despite the symbolic gesture, the punishment divided opinions among fans and experts.

Although he acknowledged the nobility of the tribute, former referee and Globo commentator PC Oliveira clarified that the officiating applied the rule correctly. In this regard, he stressed that, even in the face of a just cause, the regulations require a mandatory booking for anyone who takes off their shirt on the field.

— He can’t. Even feeling moved, knowing it was a very fair tribute to the idol Oscar, the card has to be given. The rule is very strict for this type of conduct, it is explicit, there is no room for the referee’s interpretation. Covering the head with the shirt or with a mask, or taking off the shirt, he has to receive a yellow card. This is the kind of card the referee gives almost apologizing, embarrassed -, said PC de Oliveira.

WHAT DOES THE RULE SAY?

Law 12 of the International Board (IFAB) states that the referee must show a yellow card to a player who takes off his shirt to celebrate a goal. This guideline, made official in 2004, also covers covering the head with the jersey or wearing masks. In addition, the punishment still applies even in cases where VAR disallows the play right after the celebration.

In this sense, the referee on the field has his hands tied, since the protocol leaves no room for the emotional side of the game. Therefore, no matter how noble the player’s tribute may be, the officiating must apply the warning strictly. Otherwise, the referee would set a dangerous precedent, immediately triggering complaints about inconsistency and failure to follow the official rules.

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