Leila Pereira hits back at Flamengo’s statement and demands: “Forget about Palmeiras”
Palmeiras president Leila Pereira did not hold back in her criticism of the official statement released by Flamengo. In an interview given before the match against Fortaleza in the Copa do Brasil Round of 16, the Palmeiras executive countered the Rio club’s claims and urged Flamengo to focus on their own business.
“Absolute audacity,” says Leila Pereira
The Palmeiras president questioned Flamengo‘s interference in the controversy surrounding player Mauricio and officiating decisions. Leila Pereira remarked sarcastically:
I don’t understand why the club got involved in this matter. Did the shoe fit?
She refuted the accusation that Palmeiras is the most favored club by officiating, pointing back to the Libertadores final and stating that mistakes were corrected. The president declared:
I thought it was pure audacity to say that Palmeiras is the club most favored by officiating. Have they forgotten what happened in the Libertadores final?
Exchange of official statements intensifies rivalry
The clash between Palmeiras and Flamengo has become more heated after Flamengo issued an official statement last Saturday (01). The Rio-based club responded to Palmeiras‘ questions regarding Mauricio‘s play against Vitória, comparing it to a similar incident involving Erick Pulgar. Previously, Palmeiras had already voiced their stance, expressing perplexity over the STJD‘s charges against their athlete and questioning the tribunal’s lack of consistency when analyzing similar plays involving players from Flamengo and Corinthians.
Tense battle for the top of Brazilian football
The rivalry between Flamengo and Palmeiras also extends to national and continental competitions. In the current 2026 season, both clubs have established themselves as favorites for the Libertadores and Brazilian Serie A titles. In the league, Palmeiras leads the competition with an eight-point lead over Flamengo. On the continental stage, both teams remain strong contenders, having both qualified for the Libertadores Round of 16. The exchange of barbs between the boards promises to further heat up the battle for the top of Brazilian football.
M360 Team
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