The use of VAR to send off Flamengo's Jorge Carrascal after half-time for an incident that occurred before the break raised fresh questions about its use during the Brazilian Super Cup at the Garrincha Stadium in capital Brasilia. The bizarre red card decision came after Corinthians players complained bitterly about an alleged elbow strike by Carrascal to Breno Bidon's face shortly before the interval. The Corinthians midfielder lay on the pitch for several minutes as his teammates demanded a VAR review that never came. Both teams headed to the dressing rooms assuming the matter was closed. However, referee Rafael Klein shocked everyone in attendance when he headed to the VAR booth after the players returned for the second half, ultimately concluding there had been aggression, delivering a red card to the Colombian midfielder that left Flamengo stunned. The decision caused outrage among Flamengo players, who believed any review would have happened during the first half. Corinthians went on to win 2-0 with goals from Gabriel Paulista and Yuri Alberto to claim the trophy.
The Brazilian FA (CBF) blamed electrical problems for the unprecedented delay. CBF said a power outage hit several stadium sectors during halftime, including the video office room, which remained dysfunctional for large portions of the second half. "Initially, the available images did not provide conclusive evidence, which is why the first half ended normally," the CBF explained in a statement. "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." Initial angles were inconclusive, so the first half ended as normal. A subsequent check clearly revealed the offence, leading to a recommendation for the referee to review and the resulting red card. The procedure was supported by the 2025/26 Laws of the Game and FIFA’s VAR protocol, which permit VAR intervention for violent conduct at any time, including after play has restarted. There was a power outage during the break affecting several areas of the stadium, including the VOR, the VAR’s Video Office Room. A back-up system kept VAR operating for about 15 minutes. With power not promptly restored, the match proceeded without VAR between the 15th and 34th minutes of the second half. Match officials followed international protocols, with communication to both captains and head coaches, and all on-field decisions complied with the Laws without technical or sporting prejudice to the game.
Source: OneFootball
