Flamengo has an asset to Super World - says former player

CONMEBOL's Disciplinary Unit has summoned Flamengo striker Bruno Henrique to a hearing to investigate his conduct following the Copa Libertadores quarterfinal match against Estudiantes in Argentina. Henrique was caught making obscene gestures toward the opposing fans shortly after the match ended in La Plata.

The hearing is scheduled for this Friday at 11:30 a.m. (Brasília time) , and the Mais Querido's number 27 will be able to participate virtually. The case will be analyzed in light of the organization's Disciplinary Code, which can apply anything from a warning to a suspension for official matches.

CONMEBOL EVALUATES BRUNO HENRIQUE

Bruno Henrique was charged under Articles 2b and 2c of Article 11 of the CONMEBOL Disciplinary Code, which address offensive or defamatory behavior and violations of the minimum standards expected in sports competitions. If deemed an infraction, the sanction will be determined in accordance with Article 6 of the same regulations , which provides for punishments such as a suspension for a specified number of matches or for a specific period.

PLAYER CLAIMS TO HAVE FIGHTED BACK

After the penalty shootout victory over Estudiantes, Bruno Henrique stated on social media that he reacted to taunts and aggression from the stands. According to the player, he was hit by objects thrown by fans , including a lighter that allegedly hit his face.

" They only show my part, but they don't show the part of us players being hit by objects, cans, and other things. I only had that reaction after being hit in the face with a lighter," the Flamengo forward wrote in a comment on Instagram.

Wallace Yan was sent off after just 11 minutes in Flamengo's 1-0 loss to Bahia, drawing intense criticism, including from former player and broadcaster Neto. The young striker, who came on in the second half to try to help the team , ended up receiving two yellow cards in quick succession, leaving Flamengo with two players down.

During the program 'Os Donos da Bola,' Neto didn't mince words: "The two ejections in the Flamengo game were correct. Danilo's and that kid over there, who thinks he's Zico. Masked. Wallace Yan, who do you think you are? You wear a Flamengo jersey, brother," he said.

Neto emphasized the importance of young players understanding the responsibility of playing for the club and cited Mengão's longtime idols as role models. " The club is trying to win the Brazilian Championship, and you come onto the field and get sent off after 11 minutes. When did you play? Do you know who Zico is? Andrade? Cláudio Adão? Adílio? Who are you to do what you did?" he added.

MATCH CONTEXT

The match against Bahia was already a challenge for Mengão, who were trailing 1-0 and had Danilo sent off in the first half. Wallace Yan came on as an attacking alternative in an attempt to level the playing field , but his early dismissal further complicated the team's situation.

WALLACE YAN FINED

According to information released by journalist Venê Casagrande, the club decided not to remove the player from the main squad, but to impose an internal punishment for educational purposes. The measure aims to educate the player about the responsibility of acting with emotional balance in decisive matches.

The latest episode of the program "Resenha do Galinho," hosted by Zico on Flamengo TV, featured a special meeting with two of the club's most iconic goalkeepers: Raul Plassmann and Rossi . The greatest idol in Mengão's history acted as a mediator and facilitated a rich exchange of experiences between different generations of the goalkeeper.

One of the main topics of the discussion was the evolution of the goalkeeper's role in football and the differences between eras. Raul Plassmann, a world champion with Flamengo in 1981, recalled that he never had a coach specialized in the role during his career, a common practice in professional clubs today.

"I didn't have a goalkeeping coach. It was you and Bria, who would take free kicks after training sessions. It was a different world, Rossi, completely different from today. That's how football was run," Raul stated, highlighting the limitations of the time.

CHANGES IN GOALKEEPERS' POSTURE

Rossi agreed with Raul and highlighted other significant changes in the goalkeeper's role. The Argentinean emphasized that goalkeepers now participate more in the game with their feet , which has transformed the style of the position and increased the market value of these players.

"Football has changed a lot. Before, the goalkeeper would pick up the ball and kick it long, but today it's played short. Even when it came to goalkeepers, they didn't come out as much before, and that's changed too. These days, a goalkeeper can be sold for €50 million, something that never used to happen . The goalkeeper participates more than it seems," explained Rossi.