VAR Power Failure Leads to Extraordinary Post-Half-Time Red Card in Brazilian Showpiece
A highly unusual and unprecedented VAR decision during Sunday's Brazilian Super Cup final has ignited fierce debate about the application of video technology in football, following a bizarre incident where a Flamengo player was dismissed after the interval for an offence committed before the break.
Bizarre Sequence Leaves Players and Spectators Stunned
The extraordinary red card was issued to Flamengo's Colombian midfielder Jorge Carrascal following vehement protests from Corinthians players, who alleged an elbow strike by Carrascal to Breno Bidon's face just before half time. The Corinthians midfielder remained on the pitch for several minutes as his teammates called for a VAR review, which did not materialise before the teams headed to the dressing rooms.
Both sides believed the incident was closed until referee Rafael Klein stunned everyone by consulting the VAR booth after the second half had commenced. Following this delayed review, Klein ruled that an act of aggression had occurred and showed Carrascal the red card, leaving Flamengo players and staff completely bewildered.
Manager Expresses Complete Astonishment at Unprecedented Situation
The decision provoked immediate outrage among the Flamengo squad, who maintained that any review should have taken place during the first half. Corinthians went on to secure the trophy with a 2-0 victory, courtesy of goals from Gabriel Paulista and Yuri Alberto.
"I had never seen that in my life," said Flamengo manager Filipe Luis, the former Chelsea and Atletico Madrid defender. "I don't know if it had ever happened anywhere else. The players waited on the pitch and headed to the dressing room as if the play had already been reviewed."
"We prepared the whole plan to play 11 against 11 and then that happens... I don't want to make excuses for the defeat, but I had never seen anything like it before," the stunned manager added, highlighting the unprecedented nature of the incident.
Brazilian FA Attributes Delay to Electrical Infrastructure Failure
The Brazilian Football Association (CBF) later provided an official explanation for the unprecedented delay, attributing it to significant electrical issues. According to their statement, a power outage affected several stadium sectors during half time, including the VAR control room, which remained inoperable for a substantial period of the second half.
"Initially, the available images did not provide conclusive evidence, which is why the first half ended normally," the CBF explained. "While the procedures were still ongoing, a new check allowed for clear identification of the infraction, which led to the recommendation for review so that the referee could evaluate and consequently send off the player."
This incident has raised serious questions about VAR protocols and infrastructure reliability in Brazilian football, with many observers calling for clearer guidelines about time limits for reviews and contingency plans for technical failures during crucial matches.
