Defensive midfielder Jorginho picked up his third red card of 2026 and will miss Flamengo‘s derby against Fluminense as well as the Libertadores semifinals.
The 2026 season has seen an atypical number of disciplinary sanctions for Jorginho. The Flamengo midfielder was sent off once again during the 2-2 draw against Santos, reaching an unprecedented negative milestone in his professional career.
With his third red card of the year, the midfielder has surpassed all the send-offs he accumulated combined between 2010 and 2025. His absence comes at a crucial moment in the Rubro-Negro’s season.
The player will serve an automatic suspension in the Fla-Flu derby in the Brazilian Serie A and also in the first leg of the Libertadores semifinals against Estudiantes.
Controversy at Vila Belmiro and recent record
The decisive play occurred in the second half at Vila Belmiro. After a back pass under pressure, the player fell at the edge of the penalty box and touched the ball with his hand.
Initially, referee Anderson Daronco awarded a free kick outside the box and issued a yellow card. Summoned by VAR, the referee reviewed the incident at the monitor and overturned his decision to a penalty kick and a straight red card.
On the spot kick, Neymar converted for the São Paulo side. The eventful match ended in a 2-2 draw after another penalty converted by Santos’ number 10.
In his post-match interview, the Flamengo midfielder expressed strong dissatisfaction with how the officiating was handled throughout the match:
On the penalty play, he still managed to make the worst-case scenario happen. He was able to go to VAR, take a look, and had the opportunity to change his mind. But he awarded the penalty, and there’s no going back.
The indiscipline in 2026 contrasts with the player’s career record. In January, he was sent off against São Paulo for arguing with referee Wilton Pereira Sampaio.
In September, he picked up two yellow cards in the clash against Independiente del Valle in continental play. Combined, the player now has three red cards this year and five overall in his career.
Challenges for Leonardo Jardim in the home stretch
Head coach Leonardo Jardim will need to restructure his midfield for the decisive upcoming matches. Jorginho‘s absence comes alongside midfielder Arrascaeta, who is out with a wrist injury.
Despite the slip-up in Santos, Flamengo leads Série A with 61 points. Second-place Palmeiras narrowed the gap to just one point following a victory this round.
The Fla-Flu derby at the Maracanã will be refereed by Rafael Rodrigo Klein for Round 30 of the national tournament. The club boasts an excellent home record, accumulating five
