Palmeiras fears that the controversy with Vitória will repeat the scenario experienced in 2025

Vitória strongly criticized the refereeing after the defeat. "It's a good thing Brazil saw the game. Cacá got five stitches on the chin, it wasn't by chance, it wasn't because it was intentional, which was what the players reported about what the referee said. This unbalanced the match, Vitória was better. There was an imbalance after not being sent off for aggression", said Fábio Mota, president of the club, after the game.

On social media, the club mocked Maurício's goal: "A goal from someone who should have been sent off. Congratulations to those involved."

Referee Alex Gomes Stefano did not send off Maurício after elbowing Cacá and then sending off the defender for a tackle with his boot studs on Arias' leg. Outraged by the situation, Luan Cândido made a gesture of "robbery" and also received a red card.

Palmeiras understands that it was a game like this that changed the script of last year's Brasileirão. Palmeiras beat São Paulo 3-2 at Morumbis, in October, in a game that featured an unmarked penalty from Allan on Tapia when São Paulo was winning 2-0.

The Alviverde management understands that Flamengo and its fans took advantage of the episode to create the narrative that Palmeiras was very favored in the competition, and from that moment on the markings on the field changed completely - everything for the Palmeiras side was more difficult.

"I don't live by "ifs". If the penalty had been awarded, the game would have been 3-3 or 4-3, but after this penalty, a lot of things changed. Namely, the referee of this competition was left hanging, were other referees not scared?", said Abel in the final stretch of last year's Brasileirão.

Palmeiras leads the Brasileirão with 47 points, eight points ahead of second-place Flamengo - who have a game in hand.

The team led by Abel Ferreira returns to the field next Sunday (2), at 4pm (Brasília time), against Fortaleza, at Nubank Parque, in the first game of the round of 16 of the Copa do Brasil.