The Great Circus Off the Field: The Politics of the Ball

Flamengo has been embroiled in a "cold war" with the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF). The Rio de Janeiro club, in an official statement, vehemently criticized the unilateral calendar changes, claiming that the new schedule "disrespects the sport" and creates an "imbalance in the competition." The humor here is the sheer naiveté: the CBF, which historically struggles to organize a coherent schedule, now presents itself as the savior of national football. The organization justified the reversal of the dates of the Copa do Brasil and Brasileirão as "favoring Brazilian football" and claimed to have received "several endorsements from other clubs," including Palmeiras and São Paulo. The issue, however, is not about the date itself, but about power. The CBF's maneuver, which benefits the majority with extended vacations and a shorter preseason, places Flamengo in a position of strategic isolation. Rivals who "support" the decision actually benefit from the dispute. Brazilian football, at the end of the day, is a behind-the-scenes game of chess, where every tactical move off the field is worth more than any play on it.

Derbys, Draws and the Usual Confusion

The 22nd round of the 2025 Brazilian Championship gave us the results everyone expected: draws that tasted like defeat for the home team, refereeing controversies, and confirmation that, deep down, most of the drama happens in the stands.

The seventh and final derby between Corinthians and Palmeiras this season ended 1-1, with goals from Vitor Roque for Verdão and an own goal from Piquerez for Timão. However, what marked the match wasn't the score, but the thunderous booing from the Corinthians fans. The victim? Former goalkeeper Carlos Miguel, now with Palmeiras. He was called a "mercenary" by the Fiel, who, in their relentless loyalty, preferred to chant the name of Hugo Souza, the current goalkeeper. The fans' reaction, labeling a professional a "mercenary" for having made a career choice, reveals how much the myth of "love for the jersey" is still alive. The irony is that blind devotion goes so far as to exalt the mediocre to protest a talent who once "betrayed" the cause. The derby isn't a game, but a declaration of values, and the booing was the most eloquent cry of the night.

In another match, leaders Flamengo drew 1-1 with Grêmio at Maracanã. The result, however, was overshadowed by the performance of referee Paulo César Zanovelli. Flamengo fans felt robbed twice: by a penalty allegedly not awarded in their favor and by the awarding of a penalty in Grêmio's favor that secured the draw. The fans' outrage extended to Léo Ortiz's third yellow card and criticism of full-back Ayrton Lucas, who conceded the penalty. With each round, the refereeing of the Brazilian Championship becomes a kind of chaotic force, a god of chaos that inexplicably decides the course of the competition. For fans, this is the explanation for every slip-up, a way to shift blame and maintain the narrative that the team is, in fact, perfect but hampered by a system.

The full review of round 22

The 22nd round of the 2025 Brasileirão was a veritable rollercoaster of emotions, jokes, and, of course, results that defy all logic. A round that made us laugh, cry, and, above all, ask ourselves if Brazilian football is a competition or a play. Here's a recap of the week's matches!

Saturday, August 30th

Ceará 0 x 1 Juventude : Ceará decided the best way to stay in the top flight was to do good. Juventude, desperately needing the three points, thanked the gift and won away from home, proving that faith can move mountains, or, in this case, push a team out of the relegation zone. A true fairy tale, only with cleats.
Botafogo 4 x 1 Red Bull Bragantino : Botafogo, which had been playing in a slow mood, decided to show that it still remembers how to play football. The black and white attack was on fire, and the score, a massacre worthy of a day of bad luck for Red Bull, was the result. The question remains: were Bragantino's energy drinks out of date?
Cruzeiro 1-0 São Paulo : In a match that felt more like a study in patience, Cruzeiro did its homework and defeated São Paulo with the efficiency of a center-forward goal. The victory was narrow, but enough to silence those who doubted the team.

Sunday, August 31st

Flamengo 1 x 1 Grêmio : Flamengo, the team of the people and of controversy, drew at home with Grêmio, who decided to play for a goal. The red-and-black fans, already stifled in their victory cry, decided to channel their anger at the referee, who, in their view, "stole" the game. The irony? Grêmio's equalizer came from a penalty, much to the joy of the Tricolor nation.
Santos 0 x 0 Fluminense : What happens when a fish and a mummy meet? A dull draw. Santos, debuting its new coach, Juan Pablo Vojvoda, tried, fought, but couldn't score. Not even the presence of a certain star who loves to party was enough to score. A 0-0 draw that left many people sleeping on the couch.
Corinthians 1 x 1 Palmeiras : The São Paulo derby, which has become a classic, ended as usual: in a draw. Palmeiras, with top scorer Vitor Roque, opened the scoring, but Corinthians, with a little help from their opponent, tied the game with an own goal by Piquerez. The Corinthians fans, in their usual sanity, preferred to boo former goalkeeper Carlos Miguel rather than celebrate the draw.
Mirassol 5 x 1 Bahia : Mirassol, the current favorite, decided to prove that they're here to stay in Serie A, not to be relegated, as some prophets predicted. Bahia, which looked like a local team, suffered a humiliating defeat and saw their dream of closing in on the leader turn into a nightmare. A victory that was worth three points and left the Lion at the top of the table.
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Vitória 1-0 Atlético Mineiro : Vitória was the only team from Bahia that did well. They played the part of a Minas Gerais team and quietly "eaten" Galo in a weak, protocol-style game. Atlético Mineiro is looking for a new coach after Cuca's turbulent departure.
Sport 2 x 3 Vasco : Vasco, with the noose around their necks, decided not to wait for luck to knock. In the 8th minute, Nuno Moreira opened the scoring for Vasco, proving that all was not lost. But Sport, currently bottom of the league, proved its stubbornness. In the 25th minute, Vasco equalized with a penalty goal from Lucas Lima. The joy was short-lived, as Philippe Coutinho, with a touch of class, restored Vasco's lead before halftime. In the second half, the situation repeated itself. Vasco was awarded another penalty, converted by Vegetti, to the delight of the brave fans who still watch the team's games. The 3-1 score seemed like a relief, but Sport doesn't give up easily. Ramon Menezes, in the 74th minute, reduced the lead and gave Vasco fans a scare. In the end, Vasco, in a tight match, held on to the victory and secured three very important points that took them out of the relegation zone.
Internacional 2 x 1 Fortaleza : For Internacional, life is never easy, even when it should be. The Colorado team hosted Fortaleza in a match that, on paper, looked like a battle of titans from the bottom of the table. The result? A hard-fought 2-1 victory for Inter that made the Colorado fans breathe a sigh of relief. In the 21st minute, Alan Patrick, with the precision of a surgeon, converted a penalty and put the Colorado team ahead. We thought: "Okay, now it's on!" The problem is that the Porto Alegre team decided to take a coffee break. And, as a wise old man would say, football doesn't forgive those who relax. Fortaleza, which had been quiet, took advantage of the Colorado defense's slumber. In the 31st minute, Lucas Prior, with a header, threw a bucket of cold water on the party, scoring the equalizer. At that moment, drama seemed inevitable, and the fans, who were already on their feet, remained seated. Life sometimes imitates football, and vice versa. Luckily for the team from Rio Grande do Sul and the hearts of its fans, Vitinho, one of the most controversial players, decided to settle the match and secured the 2-1 score. With the victory, Inter, who were "needing to breathe", now have two weeks off, before the next game against Palmeiras, to prepare and, who knows, find the stability they are looking for.