The official match report from the Flamengo vs. Palmeiras match reveals a serious death threat made by a member of the Rubro-Negro coaching staff against referee Davi de Oliveira Lacerda.
Tensions boiled over behind the scenes during the match between Flamengo and Palmeiras. Beyond the 3-0 loss on the pitch, an off-field incident has taken on a concerning tone. According to the official CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation) document, match referee Davi de Oliveira Lacerda reported receiving a direct death threat from Fernando Munhoz, a massage therapist for the Rio-based club, during halftime.
The report states that the incident took place in the mixed zone as the officiating crew was heading toward their locker room. The document notes that Munhoz, while not officially listed in the match lineup, was wearing the official coaching staff uniform of the Rubro-Negro at the time of the confrontation.
The official match report statement
The severity of the words recorded by the referee raises serious concerns regarding stadium security. The document signed by the official is explicit about what was heard in the stadium corridors:
“I inform you that during the halftime break, while the officiating crew was heading to the locker room, we were approached in the mixed zone by Mr. Fernando Munhoz, who was not on the match lineup but was dressed in the official Flamengo coaching staff uniform, saying the following words in my direction: ‘you think you’re right, but you’re not leaving here alive today’.”
Criticism of the officiating and tense atmosphere
The incident occurred against a backdrop of deep dissatisfaction from the Flamengo squad. Manager Leonardo Jardim did not hide his anger after the final whistle, especially regarding the expulsion of Jorge Carrascal, a play he considered decisive in the unfavorable result. For the coach, the inconsistency in refereeing standards is the most frustrating aspect of modern Brazilian football.
“Today was a game where the referee opted for a high level of aggression. Jorginho was kicked early in the game and the referee did nothing. I don’t understand the criteria. It’s easy to pull a red card against Flamengo. I understand that very well,” the coach vented.
Flamengo is now looking to turn the page quickly. Amid the tense environment, the squad led by Leonardo Jardim is already preparing for their next challenge, this time in the Copa Libertadores. Next Tuesday (26) at 9:30 PM, the team takes the field against Cusco of Peru, needing the support of the fans to get back to winning ways and put the officiating controversy behind them.
