Palmeiras beat Flamengo 3-0 to ease CBF scheduling row in Brasileirão | OneFootball

Palmeiras’ 3-0 win at Flamengo steadied their Brasileirão lead and cooled a simmering row with the CBF over scheduling. The result restored calm with a seven-point cushion at the top.

Weeks earlier the club had asked for next Sunday’s game against Chapecoense at Allianz Parque to be postponed, with World Cup call-ups triggering Fifa’s player release from the 28th. The federation has confirmed it will not postpone fixtures involving Palmeiras and Flamengo.

Potential absentees include Jhon Arias, Flaco López, Gustavo Gómez, Ramón Sosa, Emiliano Martínez, Maurício and Piquerez. The list grew as Andreas Pereira, Giay and Carlos Miguel picked up third yellows and will be suspended.

Speaking at Maracanã, Abel Ferreira urged the CBF to show common sense, be flexible with dates and reschedule matches that collide with the Fifa window. He added that early-year calendar decisions had since been overtaken by Fifa’s release ruling from the 28th, and said a consensual solution would better serve Brazilian football.

The win brings breathing space. Had they lost, Palmeiras would have been only one point clear of the chasing side, who also have a game in hand.

Abel now has time to reshape a side likely to be heavily changed. If the projections hold, only four starters remain available, Murilo, Arthur, Marlon Freitas and Allan.

Before returning to league matters, Palmeiras face Junior Barranquilla in the Conmebol Libertadores on Thursday at 19:00 at Allianz Parque, aiming to seal a last-16 berth. The Verdão sit second in Group F on eight points, two behind Cerro Porteño.

Source: Globo.com