CBF shares VAR audio, sparks row over Evertton Araújo’s red card | OneFootball

VAR Recommended Yellow Card After Evertton Araújo's Foul on Breno Bidon

Flamengo and Corinthians drew 1-1 this Sunday (22), in the eighth round of the Brasileirão. Despite the balanced game, the highlight was the controversial expulsion of Evertton Araújo: referee Rodrigo José Pereira de Lima issued a red card even after the VAR recommended a yellow card warning, as per audio released after the match.

In analyzing the play, video referee Wagner Reway stated that the contact was light and contested the initial decision of expulsion. “He barely touched the foot, just grazed the heel. A red card is too harsh,” he said. Subsequently, the professional reinforced the interpretation and recommended a review: he considered it a “side foot-to-foot” incident and indicated a yellow card should be issued, not a red. The VAR team agreed with the assessment.

Even so, the field referee, Rodrigo José Pereira de Lima, maintained the interpretation of a more serious infraction. Faced with the disagreement, Wagner Reway insisted on the review and reiterated that Evertton Araújo attempted to contest the ball and used “medium force” in the play, reinforcing the recommendation to change the decision.

Finally, after analyzing the video from different angles on the monitor, Rodrigo José Pereira de Lima decided to uphold the red card. The Pernambuco referee argued that the Flamengo midfielder hit Breno Bidon “from above and below”, thus maintaining the expulsion despite the VAR's guidance.

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WHEN DID THE EXPULSION INCIDENT OCCUR?

At seven minutes into the second half, Evertton Araújo contested the ball with Breno Bidon and accidentally stepped on the heel of the player from the São Paulo team. As explained, a review was recommended, but the field referee upheld the decision to expel the Flamengo player.

With one player less throughout the second half, Flamengo managed to hold onto the draw away from home. After the match against Corinthians, the director of football José Boto, coach Leonardo Jardim, and defender Danilo harshly criticized the refereeing.

WHAT IS FLAMENGO'S NEXT MATCH IN THE BRASILEIRÃO?

Without Evertton Araújo, who will serve an automatic suspension, Flamengo returns to the field only on April 2, after the break for the FIFA Date. On this occasion, the Rubro-Negro will face Red Bull Bragantino at 9:30 PM (Brasília time) in Bragança Paulista, in the ninth round of the Brasileirão.

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