The Globe

Assaults make Obina and Jorge Henrique targets of the STJD

Players may be included in an article with a minimum sentence of 120 days

Photo caption: OBINA TRAINS in Gávea: the Flamengo striker will be tried by the STJD for assaulting defender Índio

Carlos Eduardo Mansur

Facing decisive moments in the Brazilian Championship, Flamengo and Botafogo could face serious legal trouble. Flamengo's Obina and Botafogo's Jorge Henrique will be charged by the Superior Court of Sports Justice (STJD) prosecutors. Both could be charged under Article 253 of the Brazilian Code of Sports Justice, which covers physical assault. The penalties range from a 120- to 540-day suspension.

According to STJD Attorney General Paulo Schmitt, the two athletes could be charged under articles with lesser penalties. However, he said this is not typically the prosecutor's procedure.

"Generally, the prosecution tends to focus on the most serious offenses. During the trial, if necessary, the athlete's defense can request disqualification to another article," Schmitt said.

Technical errors beyond the scope of the STJD

The prosecutor confirmed yesterday that Obina will be tried for elbowing Internacional defender Índio during last Saturday's 3-0 defeat in Porto Alegre. Schmitt said he had already seen the incident on TV. However, he requested video of the match to analyze the case in more detail and decide under which article the Flamengo player will be charged. In the best-case scenario for Flamengo, Obina could be charged under Article 254, which covers violent play, with a two- to six-game suspension. However, the player has a good chance of going to trial for physical assault, under Article 253.

Meanwhile, Botafogo's Jorge Henrique, who was sent off for a violent play in Botafogo's 4-1 loss to Náutico, had his situation aggravated by confronting referee Rodrigo Martins Cintra after receiving a red card. According to Paulo Schmitt, Jorge Henrique could be charged under Article 251 (complaining through gestures or disrespecting the referee), with a suspension of one to four matches, or under Article 253 (physical assault), with a penalty of 120 to 540 days.

Referee Rodrigo Martins Cintra's report makes Jorge Henrique's situation even more difficult. In his report, Cintra claims to have given Jorge Henrique a red card after he stepped on an opponent while competing for the ball.

Later, the referee says that Jorge Henrique "came towards me and hit me with his chest, and I only didn't fall because I was bigger than the attacker." According to the referee, the black and white striker had to be restrained by his teammates.

The accusations against Obina and Jorge Henrique once again place the Superior Court of Justice (STJD) at the center of important decisions regarding the future of the Brazilian Championship. And precisely after another round marked by complaints against the refereeing. Yesterday, Paulo Schmitt explained the limits of the STJD's scope of action regarding referees. Recently, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) determined that any actions that violate the rules of the game and are exposed by the media may be subject to charges by the court. The prosecutor clarified that referees cannot be brought to trial for what he called factual errors, that is, technical errors in interpretation.

The Superior Court of Justice (STJD), according to Schmitt, can only file charges against referees in cases of legal errors and disrespect for the rules of the game. An example is issuing two yellow cards to the same player without sending him off, or failing to report a serious infraction committed by an athlete in the match report, proven by match footage.

- Technical errors cannot be the subject of the STJD, unlike non-compliance with game rules or when a serious infraction is not reported in the report - says Schmitt.

Roger, Fla's headache

Barred from the team by Joel Santana, the player leaves physical training claiming to be unwell.

Photo caption: ROGER, ALREADY with his cleats in hand, during training at Gávea. The player is barred

Mauricio Fonseca

Barred from the team due to a lack of combativeness, midfielder Roger was supposed to begin a special physical program yesterday to build muscle strength. Away from training, the player was under the care of physical trainer Ronaldo Torres. But not for long. Claiming a headache, Roger only completed part of the training session. He stayed on the field for no more than 15 minutes. He went to the locker room, showered, and left the club while the others trained under a scorching sun for the important match against Cruzeiro, tomorrow at 20:30 pm, at Maracanã.

Roger is expected back in Gávea today. Full-time training is scheduled for him and for Argentine Colace, who started training alongside Roger yesterday and only finished an hour later, completely exhausted.

"The training period is short, but if the players follow the instructions, their physical performance will improve. I can take responsibility for the physical aspect. The psychological aspect isn't my responsibility," Torres said, without mentioning Roger's name.

It wasn't necessary. Roger's lack of commitment while Flamengo is going through a difficult time has displeased not only the coaching staff but also the Flamengo board, which gave the coach carte blanche to remove the player. Signed midway through the Brazilian Championship, the midfielder has barely played. From his debut (2-2 with Corinthians) until now, he has played 12 games. Roger has missed four, either injured or suspended.

His very poor performance against Internacional was the last straw, at least for Joel.

"Roger is out to get back into shape. He's my engineer, but he's having trouble getting out of the marking," he explained.

Yesterday, training, scheduled to begin at 9 a.m., only began an hour and a half later. A meeting took place in the locker room for an hour, with players, coaching staff, and vice-president of football Kleber Leite. The players listened in silence to the coach and director's scolding. Afterwards, more conversation took place on the field. First between Joel and Kleber Leite, and then between the coach and Bruno and Fábio Luciano, the team's leaders.

Midfield should have Rômulo, Cristian, Jaílton and Toró

After all the discussion, Joel decided that, without Ibson (injured) and Roger, it would be best to reinforce the defense. In training, the coach tested a formation with Rômulo, Cristian, Jaílton, and Toró, with Renato Augusto and Souza up front.

"We're in a difficult position and we have to act. The changes are necessary," said Joel, who intends to observe the new formation further before confirming the lineup for the game against Cruzeiro.

Joel learned this morning that Flamengo, thanks to an interpretation by the CBF, is not in the relegation zone, but Atlético-PR is. The news that the Paraná team was in a worse situation, having received one more red card than Flamengo, did not lessen the coach's disappointment. Quite the contrary. It only served to greatly increase his irritation:

- Celebrate what? I told them it was ridiculous that we were only out of the relegation zone because of a red card.

Interpretation frees team from danger zone

Thanks to an interpretation by the CBF, Flamengo is not in the relegation zone of the Brazilian Championship, but Atlético-PR is. The two teams are tied on points (29), wins, goal difference, and goals scored, the first three tiebreakers. The fourth item—head-to-head record—would leave the Rio de Janeiro club in the bottom four, as they lost 2-0 in Curitiba in the first round.

However, according to the CBF, item four cannot be considered because Flamengo has not yet hosted Atlético-PR in Rio. Therefore, item five remains valid, which means the more disciplined team has the advantage. Flamengo received four red cards, and Atlético-PR received five. Thus, the Rio de Janeiro team is 16th, and the Paraná team is 17th.

DIEGO WILL GET A RAISE

Two-time world champion on the floor exercise in Stuttgart, Germany, on Saturday, gymnast Diego Hypólito will receive good news when he arrives in Rio today. He will receive a raise and will now receive R$20 per month from Flamengo. Without his sponsor's contributions, the club was still owed his 2007 salary until a few days ago. Since Diego Hypólito's salary was R$10 (R$120 per year), the board doubled the monthly amount to pay off the arrears by the end of the year.

Sports Journal

Joel: 'This is not the time to celebrate anything'

File/JS

Joel doesn't want to know about celebrating at Fla

After another lackluster performance by midfielder Renato Augusto in the match against Internacional last Saturday, coach Joel Santana expressed concern about the young player's performance. However, the manager is at a loss to explain the reason for the player's poor form.

"It's impossible for a player of Renato Augusto's talent to have such a profound decline. We'll try to find out what's going on. Before playing for the U-20 national team, he was doing well, and when he returned, he's in this situation," lamented Joel Santana.

Another topic on the agenda at Gávea on Monday afternoon was the team's escape from relegation, thanks to one of the Brazilian Championship's tiebreakers: the number of red cards. With one extra red card, Atlético-PR sits in 17th place with 29 points. When asked about a possible celebration for escaping the relegation zone, Joel was straightforward in his response.

"Celebrate after losing 3-0? This isn't the time to celebrate anything. We have to work hard and make it happen. It's ridiculous that Flamengo isn't in the relegation zone because of a red card," the coach told Rádio Globo.

Roger was left with Fla

Joel leaves the player aside to regain his fitness. Toró will be the brains behind the team against Cruzeiro.

Thiago Bokel

File/JS

Since arriving at Fla, in July, Roger has not been even a shadow of the skilled playmaker of Fluminense and Corinthians

Last Saturday's loss to Internacional sparked a new crisis. Irritated by yet another poor performance from his team, which is seriously threatened with relegation, coach Joel Santana adopted drastic measures. After meeting with the group for nearly an hour before yesterday's training session at Gávea, he removed midfielder Roger, who will have to undergo physical reconditioning, similar to what striker Obina underwent recently. Thus, Toró was chosen by Joel to lead the team against Cruzeiro.

"Roger is the team's engineer. He's incredibly talented, and for that reason, I see he needs special attention. The last few matches have shown that he can't just play the way he's been playing. We needed to change a few things to get him back on track," Joel explained.

Without saying what he came for

The numbers prove the coach right. Since joining the team in July, Roger has yet to produce the same form that earned him a call-up to the Brazilian national team. A very low-key player, he played eight matches for the red-and-black team, failing to score a single goal, missing four due to excessive yellow cards, a red-and-black red, and injuries.

With Roger's departure, the Flamengo midfield will be completely disfigured for tomorrow's match against Cruzeiro at Maracanã. Concerned about the defense's repeated lapses and the absence of Ibson, Joel decided to field three defensive midfielders: Rômulo, Jaílton, and Cristian.

"These were necessary changes, and within what I have in the group at the moment, it's the best I have. The team needs to change the way it plays away from home, it needs to change its philosophy to avoid fluctuations. It needs to impose its rhythm, but play according to the rules," said Joel.

Vice-president of football Kleber Leite said yesterday that he will meet today with Eduardo Uram, Juan's agent, to discuss his contract renewal. Flamengo's intention is to offer a new contract until the end of 2009, meaning a one-year extension to the current contract.

Maxi remains out and Ibson is another loss

As if the serious problems arising after the loss to Internacional weren't enough, coach Joel Santana received two pieces of bad news yesterday morning. Flamengo's medical department ruled out forward Maxi Biancucchi, who injured the adductor muscle in his left thigh, and midfielder Ibson, who sprained his right ankle in the last match.

The Argentine's injury is already starting to worry the coaching staff. Since he felt it in the 3-1 victory over Goiás at Maracanã, Maxi has been unable to play. Last week, after the victory over Figueirense, the foreigner's return was already considered a given. However, during a training match against Bonsucesso, the player again felt pain in the area and was ruled out, initially only for the trip to Porto Alegre.

Ibson's case appears to be a bit more complicated. He arrived at Gávea on crutches and with a severely swollen ankle, barely able to walk on the ground. There's still no timetable for the number 7's recovery, as he underwent intensive treatment and declined to comment on whether striker Adriano was malicious in the play. With few options, Renato Augusto is expected to play up front and Toró in midfield.

CBF explains the card criteria

The tough battle between Flamengo and Atlético-PR in this Brazilian Championship to escape the relegation zone has gained another chapter. Although the Rio de Janeiro team has two games in hand, both teams have virtually equal records, including goal difference.

Atlético-PR, currently coached by Ney Franco, has two more defeats, but the direct confrontation would put them ahead of the Rio de Janeiro team, as in the first round, playing at home, the Paraná team won 2-0.

The CBF, however, claims that to exercise this right, the two scheduled matches between the teams in the championship would need to have already taken place for this criterion to be applied, and therefore used the number of red cards as a tiebreaker, which favored Flamengo (it had four, compared to its opponent's five). Coach Joel Santana dismissed this advantage.

"There's nothing to celebrate here. Especially since we're coming off a 3-0 defeat. It's ridiculous to be told we're out of the zone because of the cards," he raged.

Cruzeiro, currently second in the Brazilian Championship, will see the return of striker Roni, replacing Marcelo Moreno, who is with the Bolivian national team. Roni will also be the captain.

Flamengo wins the Brazilian Youth Water Polo Championship

Flamengo was crowned Brazilian junior men's water polo champion last Sunday. Competing in their own pool in Gávea, the Rio de Janeiro club defeated Pinheiros in the final, 7-6 (FLA 2-2 ECP / 4-1 / 0-2 / 1-1).

The tournament's top scorer was Botafogo's Wilson Espoti, known as Dudu, with 18 goals. The goalkeeper who conceded the fewest goals was Pedro de La Rocque (pictured), champion with Flamengo.

Last year, the team led by coaches Antonio Canetti and Solon dos Santoso was runner-up, losing the final to Botafogo, 4-3, in João Pessoa, Paraíba.

This year, Botafogo finished fifth after a 13-6 victory over Jundiaiense. In the bronze medal match, Paineiras defeated Tijuca Tênis 10-7. Paulistano defeated Fluminense 12-10 and finished seventh. Hebraica/SP finished ninth and last.

Flamengo's victorious campaign was as follows: Tijuca (5 to 4), Jundiaiense (18 to 4), Hebraica (21 to 3) and Pinheiros (7 to 6).

Sergio Du Bocage

Here's What You Wanted!

(De)Cadents

Sergio Du Bocage bocage@jsports.com.br

With the exception of Fluminense, with two wins in their last two games, the other three Rio teams are in decline. Or rather, Vasco and Botafogo, as Flamengo can't afford to be relegated, having not even managed to get back on their feet yet. If we look at the standings from the second round of the Brazilian Championship alone, we see that Vasco and Flamengo are tied for a modest eighth place, while Botafogo is 18th, meaning they would be among the relegated teams. The Tricolor, as mentioned above, is saved with a respectable fourth place.

In the second half, the leaders are Santos, São Paulo, and Cruzeiro, who, having also performed well in the first half, will secure three spots in the South American tournament. And the battle for the fourth spot will then be between Palmeiras, Vasco, Botafogo, and Grêmio. Fluminense, it's worth remembering, already has its spot by winning the Copa do Brasil.

And what about Flamengo? Mathematicians say the red-and-black club's chance of being relegated is lower than that of several other clubs because it has two games in hand. But before, it was four! Now it's only two, and the team is still flirting with the relegation group. And to make matters worse, its opponents will be Cruzeiro and Vasco, not bad for those who need to earn points. In Flamengo's favor, the only thing in its favor is the fact that it has played ten of its remaining 15 games at Maracanã. If it maintains its average of the last five, it will have 22 points and reach 51, one point less than its 2006 tally, when it finished 11th. But last year, Ponte Preta, the first among the relegated teams, had 39 points. I believe this year's tally will be higher.

And since I mentioned falling, I'll return to the subject of falling. Every week it becomes more irritating to see our players forget that soccer is a sport of shock and give up plays to draw fouls. But worse are the referees, who prefer to invent the infraction rather than follow up on the play. Here, no one fights for the ball, because someone falls and the referee blows the whistle. What can we do? Professionalizing the referees would be one way, but how about teaching them how to referee? How about coaches demanding more commitment from their players and less whining? How about players convincing themselves that they can fool the referee, but not the public, given the dozens of cameras surrounding the field?

O Dia

Fla: The order is to play ugly, but come back without defeat

Martha Esteves

Rio - The time has come for the team to learn to play ugly away from home. The order was given after the Red-Blacks lost 3-0 to Internacional on Sunday at Beira-Rio. They must also avoid red cards, which could be crucial to escaping relegation.

Defender Fábio Luciano has another warning: the defense must be careful with positioning and marking against Cruzeiro, which has the best attack in the competition: 56 goals, 21 more than Flamengo, which conceded 37.

The red-and-black captain believes the team deserved to hear Joel's scolding. He believes the team must rely on the strength of its fans, win its next two home games, and consolidate its escape from the relegation zone to avoid counting red cards.

"You can't put yourself in danger because of cards. We have three crucial months ahead of us, and there's no point in winning one home game and losing another. We always end up back in the same place. We have to play ugly, kick the ball around, contain our anxiety, and do what the coach tells us," he explained.

Card saves team from relegation

When Joel Santana warned his players about the danger of receiving cards, he was thinking about absences that would jeopardize the team's already inconsistent campaign. And it was one less red card that ultimately kept Flamengo out of the relegation zone in the final round. Having four red cards compared to Atlético-PR's five, their direct rival in the table, left the Gávea team in 16th place, pushing the Paraná team down to 17th.

Yesterday, the CBF's competitions department released a clarification on its official website regarding the teams' standings. According to the organization, the Rio de Janeiro team is out of the relegation zone simply because the fourth tiebreaker (direct head-to-head record) is compromised.

The home and away matches between Flamengo and Atlético-PR, which would constitute the '180-minute game' stipulated in the text of the first paragraph of Article 13 of the Championship regulations, have not yet taken place. On August 8, Flamengo lost to their rival 2-0 at Arena da Baixada. The return leg will be on November 25 at Maracanã.

In the first three criteria, number of wins, goal difference and goals scored, everything is strictly tied: 29 points, seven wins, eight draws, 35 goals scored, 37 conceded and a negative goal difference of two.

But not even escaping the relegation zone eased Joel's irritation. The coach scolded him for more than ten minutes before training. "There's no point in celebrating. I told them it was ridiculous for a team like Flamengo to be told they're out of the relegation zone because they received fewer red cards," he said.

OBINA IN DANGER

Superior Court of Sports Justice prosecutor Paulo Schmitt requested the tape recording of the Internacional-Flamengo match. The footage could be used as evidence in a lawsuit against Obina, who elbowed Índio. Schmitt hopes to do so this week.

The striker, who did not receive a yellow card, would be charged under Article 253 (assault on an event participant). The expected suspension is 120 to 240 days.

Joel Santana decides to bar Roger from the Flamengo team

Rio - On Monday, coach Joel Santana decided to drop midfielder Roger from Flamengo's starting lineup. The player, who had a poor performance against Internacional in the 3-0 loss at Beira-Rio Stadium, won't even be on the bench for the match against Cruzeiro next Wednesday.

The red-and-black manager is dissatisfied with his player's performance. Roger also won't be concentrating with his teammates and, at Joel's behest, will train full-time from now on.

Ibson and Biancucchi will miss Flamengo's match against Cruzeiro

Rio - Flamengo will be without two key players for next Wednesday's match against Cruzeiro at 20:30 p.m. at the Maracanã stadium. Argentine Maxi Biancucchi and midfielder Ibson, both injured, have already been confirmed as absent by coach Joel Santana. Both players are expected to be fit only next Sunday for the derby against Vasco.

Ibson arrived at the club on crutches, due to the foot he suffered from Internacional's Adriano in the 3-0 loss at Beira-Rio. Maxi is still recovering from a problem in his right thigh.

Sports Gazette

Flamengo modified to face Cruzeiro\ Gazeta Press\

Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - Roger won't be Flamengo's only problem for the match against Cruzeiro this midweek. Midfielder Ibson, with a right ankle problem, and forward Maxi Biancucchi, with a right thigh injury, didn't practice and won't face the Minas Gerais team either. With that, Joel has already begun to assemble the likely lineup and hinted that he will field a very defensive formation, with Rômulo, Jaílton, and Cristian protecting the defense and only Toró being freed up to supply the attack, formed by Renato Augusto and Souza. The team began training with: Bruno, Léo Moura, Fábio Luciano, Ronaldo Angelim, and Juan; Rômulo, Jaílton, Cristian, and Toró; Renato Augusto and Souza.

A few minutes later, Joel Santana changed the formation, which became a sort of 3-4-3, with youngsters Thales Sales and Caíque and striker Obina replacing Rômulo, Toró, and Renato Augusto. Overall, the starting lineup won 1-0, with a goal from defender Fábio Luciano.

Another player who also caught attention was Argentine midfielder Hugo Colace, who did exercises and ran around the pitch. The board is rushing to get his documentation in order so he can be available for Joel Santana for the derby against Vasco. The fitness team believes he could be cleared to participate in ball training later this week.

Off the field, the board is already concerned about the possibility of Obina being suspended for several games for the elbow he gave defender Índio in the loss to Internacional. The Superior Court of Sports Justice (STJD) is expected to hear the complaint against this athlete this week and set a trial date.

Souza also served a seven-game suspension for assaulting an opponent, Grêmio midfielder Tcheco. Despite the concerns, Flamengo's legal department will only comment when officially informed of the trial of the top scorer, currently a fan favorite. Inter's board will also attempt to bring Souza to trial, as they also accuse the Flamengo player of assaulting Índio.

Roger is sidelined on a hot day at Flamengo\ Gazeta Press\

Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - Flamengo's squad's return on Monday morning, following their 3-0 loss to Internacional, was a heated affair. For an hour, the group met with coach Joel Santana and vice president of football Kléber Leite. Many demands were made. Flamengo is not in the relegation zone only because it beat Atlético-PR on one of the tiebreakers: the lowest number of red cards. Before that, there is also a head-to-head match, which can only be decided after the matches of both rounds have been played. To respond, several measures were taken, the main one being the suspension of midfielder Roger, who will be working on his fitness and therefore will not even be included in the squad for this Wednesday's match against Cruzeiro, at 20:30 pm (Brasília time) at the Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro (RJ), a rescheduled match from the first round of the Brazilian Championship. The midfielder was sidelined several times for the same reason during the two years he played for Corinthians, where he earned the nickname 'chinelinho' for training little.

"Roger is out to improve his fitness, as he hasn't been able to escape the opposition's marking throughout the match. He's an important player for Flamengo, and we're still counting on him a lot this season. But he needs to be healthy to be able to help us," said Joel Santana.

Ronaldo Torres, who is responsible for the squad's physical preparation, said that Roger understood and supported the coaching staff's decision. The coach believes this period will be important and hinted that he is being prepared for next Sunday's derby against Vasco.

"Roger hadn't played for a long time when he came to Flamengo. We tried to do some specific work with him, but the string of games ended up compromising that. Like any athlete, he needs explosiveness, and we'll be working with him this week," the coach continued.

"This Tuesday, for example, he'll work full-time, just like on Wednesday. A week isn't ideal, but we'll get him a little better for the match against Vasco," said Ronaldo Torres, who also confirmed that midfielder Renato Augusto will also undergo special physical training. Despite this, Renato Augusto will not be sidelined and will participate in the match against Cruzeiro.

PeléNet

Flamengo squad meets for an hour this Monday

From the Editorial Team\ In Rio de Janeiro\

With more conversation than practice, the Flamengo squad returned to training this Monday morning at Gávea Stadium, following their 3-0 loss to Inter last Saturday in Porto Alegre for the Brazilian Championship. Upon returning to work, the Flamengo squad met with managers and coaching staff for about an hour before working out on the field.

The topic of discussion was the threat of relegation—which resurfaced with a vengeance after the loss to Inter—and next Wednesday's match against Cruzeiro at the Maracanã. In addition to coach Joel Santana, the club's vice president of football, Kléber Leite, also participated in the discussion.

After training, which was scheduled for 9 a.m. but didn't start until around 10 a.m., Joel Santana gave a hint about the content of the conversation he had with the group. The coach emphasized the importance of Wednesday's match, noting that it's one of Flamengo's two games in hand over their opponents—a postponed match from the 16th round.

"We have to win this game no matter what. Soon, Flamengo will have played the same number of games as the others," commented the red-and-black coach.

With the loss to Inter, Flamengo dropped to 29th place with 23 points from 16 games. The team is tied with Atlético-PR on several criteria and only avoided finishing the last round in the relegation zone because it has one fewer red card than the Curitiba team.

In addition to fears about the proximity of the relegation zone, Joel Santana also expressed concern about another problem during the meeting with the group.

"We need to learn that we can't play away from home the same way we play at Maracanã. That's not possible, because those who play here don't play on equal terms. They were warned, but they didn't follow some rules and that's what happened," said Joel, who rejected celebrations over Flamengo being out of the relegation zone due to having one less red card than Atlético-PR.

"I told them [the players] that it's ridiculous that we depend on one less red card than Atlético-PR to stay out of the relegation zone," concluded the coach.

Toró becomes the 'brain' of Fla in a midfield with three defensive midfielders

From the Editorial Team\ In Rio de Janeiro\

With Roger ruled out, midfielder Toró took his teammate's place and became the brains of Flamengo's squad for next Wednesday's match against Cruzeiro at Maracanã in the Brazilian Championship. The player, considered a great prospect in Fluminense's youth academy but who never lived up to his reputation at the club, will play alongside three defensive midfielders.

This is because coach Joel Santana will be without the injured defensive midfielder Ibson, who is playing more frequently. He will be replaced by Jaílton, who forms the defensive midfield trio with Rômulo and Cristian.

With this formation, the main team performed poorly in this morning's training session at Gávea, but won 1-0 with a goal from defender Fábio Luciano. However, after the session, Joel Santana expressed satisfaction with the starting lineup's performance.

"It was a formation that I liked today [Monday]. Now, we'll see in the game if it lives up to the hype," commented the coach.

Thus, the team will have three changes compared to the team that lost 3-0 to Inter last Saturday. In addition to Toró replacing Roger and Jaílton replacing Ibson, Cristian returns from suspension in place of Léo Medeiros.

The team that faces Cruzeiro should enter the field with Bruno; Leonardo Moura, Fábio Luciano, Ronaldo Angelim and Juan; Rômulo, Cristian, Jaílton and Toró; Renato Augusto and Souza.

Even without Ibson and Maxi, Joel bars Roger from Fla

From the Editorial Team\ In Rio de Janeiro\

Midfielder Roger's poor performance in Saturday's 3-0 loss to Inter in the Brazilian Championship didn't please coach Joel Santana at all. This Monday, the Flamengo coach decided to keep him out of the team that faces Cruzeiro next Wednesday at Maracanã, despite being without two other injured starters: defensive midfielder Ibson and attacking midfielder Maxi Biancucchi, who were ruled out this morning.

According to Joel Santana, who had already replaced Roger in the second half of the match against Inter, the midfielder needs to regain his best physical condition to return to the team. Therefore, he won't even be on the bench for the match against Cruzeiro.

"Roger is a talent. He's the team's engineer. But every time he plays, the opponent puts someone on him and he can't get out. So, we have to do something," explained Joel.

Fitness coach Ronaldo Torres also explained why the midfielder was ruled out. "Roger hadn't played for a long time [more than two months] when he came to Flamengo. With the string of games on Wednesday and Sunday, he wasn't able to do specific training. He's an athlete who needs to work on strength and explosiveness. We're intensifying this work because it's visible; he himself admitted that he's feeling it," he said.

Roger is ready to return to the team for the derby against Vasco da Gama next Sunday at the Maracanã stadium. But his own fitness coach admits that the midfielder won't be at his best against Vasco da Gama's archrival.

"It's not enough [time], but it's already a big improvement, because he'll train today and tomorrow in two shifts, on Wednesday the same thing, and on Thursday he'll reduce the workload a little to be available to Joel," he said.

Ibson should not take Vasco

While Roger may return against Vasco, Ibson is unlikely to face his rival. This Monday, he arrived at Gávea on crutches due to a severe sprain in his right ankle—which is quite swollen—suffered early in the match against Inter. Because of this, he was ruled out by the medical department for the match against Cruzeiro.

Also out of the team for Wednesday's match is Argentine Maxi Biancucchi. He had practically recovered from a left thigh strain, but felt the injury again during training, and his absence was confirmed on Monday. Now, the coaching staff is hoping to have him available for the derby against Vasco.

BalloonSport

Joel confirms Roger's ban

Midfielder will work on his physical conditioning to try to return for the derby against Vasco

Marcio Iannacca

Roger trains separately at Rubro-Negro

Coach Joel Santana confirmed that midfielder Roger has been ruled out. As a result, the player will miss Wednesday's match against Cruzeiro at Maracanã in the Brazilian Championship. The coach stated that the athlete is not in top condition and is in the hands of Flamengo's medical team.

According to Joel Santana, Roger has a chance to return to the team for Sunday's derby against Vasco. The coach explained why he left the player out of the squad.

"Roger is a talent, the team's engineer. Every time he plays, the opponent puts a marker on him and he doesn't perform. We need to do something to improve that. He deserves special attention," says Joel.

Fitness coach Ronaldo Torres began conditioning the player on Monday. Roger left the field visibly tired.

"He needs to do strength work, since we haven't had time yet. We'll work with him to get him back in the team as soon as possible," says Ronaldo Torres, who, last week, in an interview with GLOBOESPORTE.COM, had already confirmed the poor performance of some players due to physical preparation.

Joel doesn't celebrate being released from relegation

Coach refuses to admit gaining position by receiving fewer cards than Atlético-PR

Marcio Iannacca

Joel Santana wants to see the team out of the danger zone on its own merits

Coach Joel Santana was outraged when questioned about Flamengo's position in the Brazilian Championship and how the team stayed out of the relegation zone after the last round. According to the CBF, the Rio de Janeiro club beats Atlético-PR on red cards. The team from Gávea received fewer warnings than its rival.

Upset by the situation, Joel didn't mince his words.

"We have no reason to celebrate. Especially after a 3-0 defeat. It's ridiculous that Flamengo is being told they're out of the relegation zone because they received fewer red cards," says Joel Santana.

Defender Fábio Luciano stated that the team needs to be careful not to receive any more cards, as the championship could end up being decided this way.

"We have to be careful with that. Of course, we were warned about the number of cards, and we can't let that hurt us in the games," says the defender.

For Fla, Joel never beat Raposa

In his fourth stint at Gávea, the coach faces Cruzeiro for the fourth time

Marcio Iannacca

Joel Santana talks to Flamengo players during training in Gávea

Coach Joel Santana has never beaten Cruzeiro in his four stints at Flamengo. Granted, it was only three matches, one at Maracanã and two at Mineirão, but Natalino's numbers don't lie. Coaching the red-and-black team, he doesn't know what three points mean when the opponent is Raposa.

In 1996, during his first stint at Flamengo, the coach played all three matches against Cruzeiro. There were two draws and one loss. Two of the three matches were in the Copa do Brasil, and Flamengo was eliminated.

Since then, he's always been in charge of Flamengo, and the coach hasn't faced his rival from Minas Gerais since. Now, on Wednesday at Maracanã, he'll have the chance to finally beat his rival. Knowing it will be a tough match, Joel doesn't want to give the enemy any weapons and wants to end his drought against Raposa.

"I bet they'll only announce the lineup moments before the match. Everyone does that when they face Flamengo," says the coach.

Fla will have a new midfield on Wednesday

Joel Santana will field three defensive midfielders in the match against Cruzeiro at Maracanã

Marcio Iannacca

Renato Augusto will play in attack and Toró (left) in the playmaker role

Without Ibson, who has an ankle problem, and Roger, who is sidelined to regain fitness, coach Joel Santana will field a midfield quite different from the one Flamengo fans are used to seeing. Rômulo, Cristian, Jaílton, and Toró will make up the midfield.

The coach says the team won't play defensively. According to him, the lineup is due to the club's current circumstances.

"The changes were necessary. We have to put out the best we can. We're coming off a 3-0 defeat and needed to change the team. We're in a bad position in the table and we need to improve," says the red-and-black coach.

Colace will train with the ball on Wednesday

The Argentine is working on his physical condition, and Joel will be able to test him later this week.

Colace is working on his physical fitness. On Wednesday, he'll work with the ball at Gávea.

Argentine midfielder Hugo Colace, who trained physically this Monday at Gávea, is in the final stages of preparation and will be available to Flamengo coach Joel Santana to train with the ball from Wednesday.

"On Tuesday, he will feel muscle pain from the exercises he did today (Monday). On Wednesday, he will be cleared to train with the ball and will be free from physical activity. The lineup for Sunday will depend on his performance in the training session and Joel's decision," says fitness coach Ronaldo Torres.

One factor that could affect Colace's selection is that he has not yet been registered with the CBF's BID (Daily Information Bulletin). If that happens, he could make his debut this Sunday at 18:10 p.m. against Vasco da Gama at the Maracanã stadium.

Renato Augusto worries Joel

The midfielder's poor performances have led the coach to consider a solution to recover the athlete.

Marcio Iannacca

Boos from the crowd have shaken Renato Augusto, whose performance has dropped

Coach Joel Santana is concerned about midfielder Renato Augusto's inconsistent performances. The player is far from the form he enjoyed in the first half of the year, when he helped Flamengo win the Campeonato Carioca. The red-and-black coach believes he needs to be patient with this rising star.

"In Renato Augusto's case, we're trying to figure out what's going on with him. We're losing key players at a crucial moment in the competition. The title, relegation, and spots in South American competitions are all being decided now," says Joel.

Last week, coach Ronaldo Torres admitted that Renato Augusto needed to take a break because he was very tired. According to the professional, the player is not in top physical shape, and this has been hampering his performance on the field.

Renato Augusto relies on the support of Joel Santana, who sidelined midfielder Roger on Monday. The coach's plan is to give his key players time to regain fitness as the games progress.

"Roger's case can't be treated like a soap opera. We'll find a solution for each player. Now it's Roger's turn, tomorrow it could be someone else's," explains Joel.

STJD requests video of Obina's assault

Anjo Negro risks being suspended for 120 to 540 days by the Sports Court

Marcio Iannacca

Striker Obina is having a rough time in 2007. After spending five months recovering from left knee surgery and returning in a terrible state, the Black Angel could end up in the dock of the Superior Court of Sports Justice. The Superior Court of Justice (STJD) has requested footage of the match between Flamengo and Internacional, and the Bahia native could be suspended for elbowing defender Índio.

If indicted by the Superior Court of Justice (STJD), Obina will be charged under Article 253 (physical assault against a referee or his assistants, or any other participant in a sporting event) and could face a suspension of 120 to 540 days. The player's father, Mr. Manoel, defended his son, who is not speaking to the press.

"This player tried to attack Obina earlier. He ended up losing his temper. The team was losing 3-0," says Obina's father.

Tiebreaker creates confusion

Fans were left wondering who was in the relegation zone after the 25th round

The Brazilian Championship's tiebreaker criteria created confusion after the weekend's round of matches. This was due to Flamengo and Atlético-PR being tied, with the same number of points, wins, goals scored, and goal difference. According to the CBF, Flamengo is ahead, in 16th place and out of the relegation zone (see the video below for an explanation).

The championship rules state that the primary tiebreakers are number of wins, goal difference, goals scored, and head-to-head record. In the latter, Atlético-PR would have the advantage over Flamengo, having beaten the Rio de Janeiro team 2-0 in the first round.

However, late Sunday night, the CBF released a statement on its website stating that the head-to-head match would only be valid if both matches between the teams had already been played. Therefore, the tiebreaker would be decided by the lowest number of red cards. In this case, Flamengo would escape the relegation zone, having received four red cards, compared to Atlético-PR's five.

The tie between the two teams will end on Wednesday. Flamengo hosts Cruzeiro at Maracanã Stadium, in a match postponed due to the Pan American Games. A win or draw will put them ahead of the Paraná team. A loss will put them back in the relegation zone.

Meeting marks Monday at Fla

Players, managers and coaching staff talk for an hour before training

Marcio Iannacca

Joel Santana leaves Roger out and reinforces the marking in midfield

Flamengo's Monday began with a one-hour meeting between players, management, and coaching staff. The topic of discussion was the club's proximity to the relegation zone and next Wednesday's Brasileirão clash against Cruzeiro at the Maracanã.

The 3-0 defeat to Internacional once again set off alarm bells at Gávea. Coach Joel Santana's initial measures were felt during the tactical training session immediately following the meeting. Roger was removed from the team to improve his fitness. The midfield was reinforced. The coach will field three defensive midfielders: Jaílton, Rômulo, and Cristian. Toró will be responsible for creating the team's plays.

Last Thursday, coach Ronaldo Torres confirmed that the team is not in good physical shape. According to the coach, without time to train, the players are very worn out.

Throw

Internet users agree with Joel on the Roger case

Flamengo coach removed supporter due to physical disability this Monday

Roger was barred from the Flamengo team this Monday

LANCENET! users agreed with coach Joel Santana's decision to bar supporter Roger from Flamengo's training session this Monday in Gávea.

In a poll conducted by the website, 70,35% responded that they support the coach's stance, as of 20:15 p.m. this Monday. Only 29,65% of internet users disagreed with Joel Santana and believe Roger should remain with the red-and-black team.

The midfielder was substituted at half-time in last Saturday's match, in the 3-0 defeat to Internacional, at Beira-Rio. According to Joel, Roger left due to "lack of competitiveness".

Obina can catch hook by elbow

Flamengo striker attacked Inter defender Índio over the weekend

Obina attacked defender Índio and could face a 120-day suspension (Credit: Ricardo Cassiano)

Striker Obina could face a suspension if he is tried and punished for the elbow he gave Internacional defender Índio in Flamengo's 3-0 loss at Beira-Rio last Saturday. According to Paulo Schmitt, prosecutor of the Superior Court of Sports Justice (STJD), the player could face a minimum 120-day suspension.

"The summary will go to court, and the designated prosecutor will request the videotape. If it goes to trial, it will be for physical assault, which carries a minimum sentence of 120 days, and rough play, which carries a minimum sentence of two games," Schmitt said.

Fábio Luciano: 'These are three decisive months'

Defender says the team needs to take advantage of being strong at home

Fábio Luciano wants Flamengo to take advantage of home advantage (Credit: Ricardo Cassiano)

Defender Fábio Luciano said this Monday that, for Flamengo, the next three months, until the end of the Brazilian Championship, will be decisive for the team's permanence in Serie A. The Rio de Janeiro team is in 16th place, with 29 points, the same score as Atlético-PR, first in the relegation zone.

- It will be three decisive months and not just the next two games - he said.

For Fábio Luciano, Flamengo needs to capitalize on its good results at Maracanã and win its upcoming matches in Rio de Janeiro. According to the player, the team is working to overcome this situation.

"We've already seen that we're strong at home. We have to do everything we're doing because there's no shortage of work. It's not because of a lack of work that we're in this situation," he concluded.

Joel sees improvement with four midfielders

Coach Joel Santana tested, in training this Monday, the formation used in the second half of the match against Internacional, held Sunday, at Beira-Rio, where Flamengo lost 3-0. With four defensive midfielders in midfield, Joel saw an improvement in both defense and attack.

radio l! - It's a formation we used in the second half of the match against Inter, and it somewhat pleased me because we managed to even the score. In Monday's training session, we scored, and our goalkeeper barely participated. There was security in the defense and creativity in the attack - he adds. (Click and listen to Natalino)

Joel calls for a new attitude outside the home

Flamengo coach Joel Santana expects the Red-Blacks to play differently at home than away. To that end, he used four defensive midfielders in midfield during Monday's training session. The coach illustrated the need for this change with opponents, who are different when they face the team from Gávea at Maracanã.

radio l! - My team wants to play away from home the same way they play at Maracanã, and that's not possible. Any team that comes to face Flamengo in Rio de Janeiro plays differently. Some even hide their lineup. I doubt our next opponent, Cruzeiro, will release the starting lineup in advance. Abel Braga himself only announced the lineup moments before the match against Inter began," he says. (Click and listen to Joel)