THE GLOBE
At the gathering, the Flamengo fans cheered for Bolognesi.
On a day of celebration for the new jersey, another controversy arises between Flamengo and Nike.
Photo caption: FÁBIO LUCIANO, Toró, Cristian and Marcinho show off the new uniform.
Photo caption: The MISTREATED WALLS of the Gávea headquarters are displayed on Nike's website.
Carlos Eduardo Mansur
This afternoon's training session at Gávea is probably not Flamengo's most important activity today. The main commitment will take place at the team's headquarters: at 23:40 PM, many will be watching the game between the Peruvian teams Coronel Bolognesi and Cienciano on television, in Flamengo's group in the Libertadores Cup.
If Colonel Bolognesi wins, Flamengo will have a good chance of qualifying with a victory in the last round against the same Bolognesi at the Maracanã, even if they lose to Cienciano in Cuzco. With any other result, they will only be certain of qualifying if they at least draw in Cuzco and then win in Rio.
"It's good to watch the game. Besides them being our next opponents, it's important to root for Bolognesi. We tried to jinx them in the last game, but it didn't work," said Juan.
"I'll be rooting hard. If Cienciano loses, it will be a burden when they face us," Marcinho added.
Before returning to the Libertadores Cup, however, Flamengo has three games in the Taça Rio. Tomorrow, they face Friburguense at the Maracanã, where they could get very close to a spot in the semifinals. Yesterday, coach Joel Santana led a tactical training session. In place of Kléberson, who will have to serve a suspension for his third yellow card, he fielded Toró. The team will play with its starters.
Sports Justice Prosecutor files charges against four players
Toró is the target of a campaign by coach Joel Santana, who sees him as being persecuted by referees and public opinion after the incidents he was involved in. Yesterday, the player spoke out.
"I'm upset because they've forgotten all the good things I've done. I won titles for the club, but it doesn't matter. They're making a mountain out of a molehill. But I don't want to question anyone. I want to work to reverse the situation," he said.
Toró, by the way, is one of the four Flamengo players denounced yesterday by prosecutor André Valentim of the TJD (Sports Justice Tribunal) because of the incidents in the derby against Botafogo. Toró was denounced for kicking goalkeeper Castillo in the head. Goalkeeper Bruno was denounced for attempting to punch defender André Luís. Forward Obina will be judged for the tackle that resulted in his expulsion and for attempting to hit Castillo after Flamengo's second goal. The last one denounced is Jônatas, for complaining against the referee and for attempting to headbutt Jorge Henrique. The trial is scheduled for April 2nd, and all are charged under articles that could result in a sentence of 120 to 540 days.
Along with Fábio Luciano, Cristian, and Marcinho, midfielder Toró modeled yesterday at the launch of Flamengo's new third kit. The shirt, which is expected to be worn on Saturday against Madureira, pays homage to rowing, the club's first sport. The ceremony took place on the banks of the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon where, assisted by club rowers, the players emerged in a boat.
The jersey was launched amidst a new controversy between Nike and Flamengo, who had already notified the company alleging breach of contract. Moments after the ceremony, Nike's website unveiled the uniforms and, to show the Flamengo rowing team's crest, which is printed on the jersey, displayed a photo of a dilapidated wall at Gávea, full of holes and paint flaws. This angered the Flamengo board, who requested the removal of the image.
"It was extremely distasteful, an absurd attack on the club's image. They should treat Flamengo with more respect. We have always preserved the image of Nike and the partnership," reacted the club's vice president of marketing, Ricardo Hinrichsen.
This episode reinforces Flamengo's argument that, dissatisfied with the partnership and having received higher offers, they want to break the agreement. However, the current contract prevents the club from negotiating with other interested parties.
Diego Hypólito will undergo surgery today with a knee injury
Gymnast to undergo arthroscopy and expected to return to training in four weeks
Photo caption: DIEGO HYPÓLITO: gymnast will undergo arthroscopy on his right knee, but is not afraid of missing the Beijing Games.
Sanny Bertoldo
The specter of injuries has once again haunted Brazilian gymnastics, five months before the Beijing Olympics. This time, the scare came for two-time world floor champion Diego Hypólito, who is preparing to compete in the Olympics for the first time.
With a medial meniscus injury in his right knee, he will undergo arthroscopy today in Rio. The surgery shouldn't affect his participation in the Games, as he is initially expected to return to training in four weeks.
"This surgery will be a solution for the pain. So, I'm going to do it to feel more confident. We go through a lot of difficulties in life, and 30 days won't take away my confidence in the future. After that, I'll get back to training strong and determined," he told Jornal Nacional.
Daiane had the same surgery before the Athens Games
The situation isn't new, and the comparison with Daiane dos Santos is inevitable. In June 2004, two months before the Athens Olympics, the athlete from Rio Grande do Sul also underwent arthroscopic surgery on her right knee and, despite being a favorite for an unprecedented gold medal, ended up finishing fifth on the floor exercise.
According to doctor Robson de Bem, who will accompany orthopedist João Granjeiro, medical coordinator of the Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB), in the surgery, Diego began to feel pain in his right knee two weeks ago.
"Diego suffered a minor injury to the meniscus in his right knee during training. As a result, he began experiencing pain and a decline in performance. Since he was feeling insecure in some movements, we decided to perform a more detailed evaluation today (yesterday) and, based on that, opted for arthroscopy," the doctor explained. "Since the injury isn't serious, surgery could have been postponed if he wasn't experiencing pain. But since the Olympics are five months away, he should be able to recover without any problems."
Robson stated that during his arthroscopy recovery period, Diego will be able to continue training his upper limbs and left leg. And in three or four weeks, he'll be able to resume exercising his right leg.
In any case, the surgery rules the gymnast out of the World Cup in Cottbus, Germany, from April 11th to 13th, the first of the year to feature Brazilians. His participation in the Tianjin, China, and Moscow, Russia, both in May, will depend on the pace of his recovery from the surgery.
For Renato Araújo, Diego's coach at Flamengo, discipline and persistence will help him at this time:
"He always bounces back very well, knows how to deal with the pain from the sport and has the strength to keep going, in addition to doing excellent physical therapy. He gives his all. That's the positive point."
This isn't Diego's first time under the knife. In April 2005, he fractured his right foot during the São Paulo leg of the World Cup. He had to have two pins inserted into his right tibia. A month later, he became world champion on the floor for the first time.
TIMEMANIA ACCUMULATES
The Timemania lottery jackpot has rolled over again. No one matched all seven numbers in draw number 4 on Saturday. Therefore, the prize for the next draw, next Saturday, could reach R$2,2 million. The winning numbers were: 66, 71, 15, 38, 70, 68 and 54. The winning club was São Raimundo, from Amazonas.
FLA BASKETBALL
Flamengo hosts Paraguayan side Sol de América today at 19 PM at the Tijuca gymnasium. This is the second game between the teams in the quarterfinals of the South American Basketball League. Flamengo won the first game 100-79.
SPORTS JOURNAL
The women will enter the field.
Tomorrow's match between Flamengo and Friburguense, at 21:45 PM at the Maracanã, will be officiated exclusively by women. The Federation released the list of professionals who will work at the game yesterday. The referee will be Simone Xavier de Paula e Silva, assisted by Fernanda Lisboa Da Silva and Lilian Da Silva Fernandes. The fourth official will be Sulamir Silva De Souza and the observer, Lúcia De Fátima Azevedo.
Tickets for the doubleheader are now on sale. The ticket is valid for both games. The first match will be between Fluminense and Mesquita. Green and yellow grandstand tickets are being sold for R$ 30, white stands for R$ 40, regular seats for R$ 20, and special seats for R$ 120. All sectors have a half-price discount for students.
Fans can purchase their tickets at the ticket offices in Gávea, General Severiano, Caio Martins, Fluminense, ticket office 08 at Maracanã, and the north stand at Engenhão, from 11 am to 17 pm.
Many goals and many top scorers.
A team that values the collective. This seems to be the main characteristic of Flamengo under coach Joel Santana in 2008. Thirteen players have scored goals this season. In total, they have 40 goals in 18 games. Souza scored the most, with six goals, but even so, he is not yet a unanimous favorite among the fans.
Of the starting players, only two have yet to score this year: Cristian and Renato Augusto. One of the team's standouts, left-back Juan, who has three goals in 2008, commented on the versatility Flamengo has shown in scoring goals. "Souza is our reference point in the area. But he also moves forward to create space, and other players arrive strongly in attack. Even with Joel resting some starters, the performance isn't dropping," Juan praised.
To replace the suspended Kleberson, who received his third yellow card against Cabofriense, Joel has chosen midfielder Toró for the position. Fábio Luciano and Ronaldo Angelim also trained with the starters and are expected to be new additions to the team tomorrow.
Yesterday's training session also featured three new developments. Juniors Léozinho and Antônio participated with the professionals for the first time. William Amendoim, who was unable to resolve his contractual situation with Macaé, returned to the club and was integrated into the main group. Airton, who was also expected to move up from the juniors, did not appear at Gávea.
The new jersey is reminiscent of the first one and will debut on Saturday.
Nike, Flamengo's sports apparel supplier, unveiled the club's third jersey yesterday. Inspired by the sport that gave rise to the club, the jersey will arrive in stores on Thursday and will have an average price of R$ 150,00. The presentation took place in grand style: Fábio Luciano, Cristian, Toró, and Marcinho arrived by boat at the rowing headquarters, on the shores of the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, with rowers Daniel, Maciel, Adilson, and Ramon.
The captain of the football team spoke about the experience of going for a ride while rowing.
“The guys from the rowing team did all the work. It was the second time I've been on that boat. We even invited them to go onto the field with us,” said Fábio Luciano, who praised the new jersey: “I thought it was beautiful and very tasteful. This jersey reflects the history of the club, which started in rowing. I hope to get a victory on Saturday.”
Rower Adilson recounted that the players had to help them carry the boat and said that Toró ended up getting in the way: "Actually, we were the ones rowing. They didn't even know how to get into the boat. Toró, for example, choked (put the oar out of position, hindering the athletes)," said Adilson.
Suspensions in sight
Bruno, Jônatas, Obina, and Toró have been indicted by the Attorney General's Office of the Sports Justice Tribunal of the Federation.
Nathan de Lima and Thiago Bokel
Photo by Nina Lima
Before learning he had been indicted, Bruno was chatting casually during training at Gávea.
The tide has turned. First it was Botafogo, which, after the Guanabara Cup final, had six players and coach Cuca indicted by the Sports Justice Tribunal. Yesterday, the general prosecutor of the TJD, André Luiz Valentim, denounced four Flamengo players, accusing them of the confusion that occurred in the 3-2 defeat in the Rio Cup derby. They are: Bruno, Jônatas, Toró and Obina.
The players were indicted under Article 253 (committing aggression), which provides for a penalty of 120 to 540 days suspension. Obina was also charged under Article 254 (committing a violent act), punishable by two to six matches – for the tackle on Lucio Flavio, which resulted in his expulsion – and Jônatas under Article 251 (complaining about gestures or words against the referee's decision), which provides for a suspension of one to three games. The trials are scheduled for April 2nd.
"I had a lot of work to do analyzing these allegations. I spent more than an hour watching the plays and needed the help of another prosecutor (Alexandre Magno Coutinho) to determine which players would be indicted," explained prosecutor André Luiz Valentim yesterday.
Of all the cases, the most worrying is that of Toró. He was indicted for kicking goalkeeper Castillo in the head. Obina, who punched the Uruguayan in the same play, and Bruno, who tried to kick defender André Luiz, are also a concern. Jônatas' situation seems calmer, since even though referee Marcelo de Souza Pinto reported the player's complaint in the match report, it wasn't shown on television. Attempts to contact Flamengo's lawyer, Michel Assef Filho, by JORNAL DOS SPORTS were unsuccessful.
Hot cloths
Yesterday, during the launch of the club's third kit, David Grinberg, Nike's communications manager, also tried to downplay the controversy surrounding Adidas and Olympicos' interest in replacing the company as Flamengo's sports equipment supplier:
"We want to maintain this eight-year partnership, but Nike will not comment on the approaches from other companies," he stated. (TB)
Flamengo launches new jersey at Gávea.
Public Relations
Flamengo launched its third uniform for 2008 this Monday. Cristian, Toró, Fábio Luciano and Marcinho posed for photos with the shirt, which pays homage to the club's origins, that is, the times when rowing was Flamengo's sport par excellence.
The design features a black bottom section and a red top section, with Flamengo's first crest, bearing the Regatas emblem, on the chest. The number, in gold, is placed on the back of the shirt, which is entirely red.
The jersey is expected to debut next weekend against Madureira at the Maracanã.
Flamengo faces the Paraguayan underdog.
If they beat Sol de América, the team advances to the semifinals of the South American Basketball League.
Pedro Ivo Almeida
Photo Disclosure
Winger Marcelinho, as always, is the great hope of the Flamengo fans.
After 19 wins in 19 games played in the 2008 season (15 in the National Championship and four in the South American League), Flamengo takes to the court today for the most important game of the year. The Rubro-Negro faces Sol de América of Paraguay in the second game of the best-of-three quarter-final series of the South American League, at 19 pm, at the Tijuca Tennis Club gymnasium, with live broadcast on ESPN Brasil.
In the first match, held in Asunción, coach Paulo Chupeta's team won 100-79, with forward Marcelinho leading the game in scoring with 29 points. If they win today's game, the team will secure a spot in an unprecedented semi-final. In case of defeat, the Flamengo team returns to the court tomorrow for the decisive match, at the same location and time.
But, according to Marcelinho, the team's star player, if it were up to the players, the series would end in the second game.
"We're going in to define the series, that's how we're thinking, without losing respect for Sol de América, which is a good quality and very dangerous team. We have to think like that, to go in to close the series, to go in strong, because we have the advantage of playing at home and, on the other side, there will be an opponent who will give everything in this match. It's not just a decision for them, it's a decision for us too," said the Flamengo captain.
Coach Chupeta is also confident ahead of today's match.
Trusted
"Despite the travel in recent days, and the last two very tiring games, the group is rested. We didn't train today (yesterday). And tomorrow (today) we'll do a very light activity in the morning, just with shooting practice. I strongly believe that we will close this series in this game. I have a lot of confidence in my group. The players are focused on the objective, they know the responsibility of taking the club to an unprecedented semi-final of the Copa Sudamericana," said the coach.
Tickets for today's match in Tijuca will cost R$ 5. Half-price tickets and fans wearing Flamengo jerseys pay only R$ 2.
Flamengo: Fred, Duda, Marcelinho, Coloneze and Alírio. Coach: Paulo Chupeta
Sol de América: Paniagua, Tim Jones, Capello, Randy Orr and Kiganya.\ Coach: Juan Pablo Feliu\
Location: Álvaro Vieira Lima Gymnasium, at Tijuca Tennis Club. Time: 19 PM.
Victory means rest for Nacional.
Today's victory represents much more than just qualifying for the Flamengo team. By defeating Sol de América, and consequently closing the series 2-0, the team from Gávea secures a place, for the first time, in the semi-finals of the biggest South American club tournament.
In addition to gaining an extra day off, since if they don't win today the team needs to return to the court tomorrow against the same opponent, which would represent the fourth game in a six-day period, involving travel and the emotional strain on the athletes. Therefore, Flamengo's coaching staff sees the match as a final.
On Friday, the team returns to the court for the National Championship, where they will face Ciser/Joinville in Rio.
Others games:
Also in the quarterfinals of the South American competition, Boca Juniors (ARG), Regatas (ARG) and Universo/BRB took the lead in their series against Libertad Sunchales (ARG), Deportivo Táchira (VEN) and Cocodrillos (VEN), respectively.
Universo/BRB, from Brasília, another Brazilian representative in the competition, returns to the court tomorrow to face Cocodrillos, in Venezuela, for the second game of the best-of-three series.
If they win, the Brazilian team will also secure a spot in the semifinals.
Diego Hypólito will undergo surgery on his right knee.
Concern for Brazilian gymnastics. Gymnast Diego Hypolito, the current world champion in floor exercise, will undergo surgery today at 7:30 am in a hospital in the South Zone of Rio de Janeiro.
He, a two-time world champion and strong favorite for gold in the floor exercise at the Beijing Olympics, will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. The operation is not expected to prevent the Brazilian from going to the 2008 Games, as the initial forecast is that he will return to training in four weeks.
Interruption
Hypolito, who is preparing to compete in his first Olympics, will be operated on by João Granjeiro, an orthopedic surgeon and member of the Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB) specializing in sports medicine.
The athlete's coach acknowledges that preparation will be hampered, but believes he will have no problem recovering by August, when the Games begin. The gymnast was preparing to compete in the Cottbus stage of the World Cup, which will be held next month.
Diego is recovering quickly and hopes to be in good shape for the Olympics.
Sergio Du Bocage
Here's What You Wanted!
With the tide
Sergio du Bocage
Yesterday afternoon, Flamengo unveiled its third kit in a very suggestive manner. Four players – Fábio Luciano, Toró, Christian, and Marcinho – entered a figure-eight and arrived at the rowing club's boathouse as if they were genuine rowers to present the new jersey, which features the club's old crest on the chest, from the time when Flamengo didn't even have a football team.
It wasn't clear whether the tide was against or in their favor, but the fact is that the team desperately needs the strength and dedication of the rowers, who have already brought so much glory to the club, to continue performing well in the competitions they are currently involved in. Rowing demands rhythm, camaraderie, precision, balance, and synchronicity from the team, and that's what the fans want to see on the field.
The fact that they are in the Carioca final may have caused the team to lose some interest in the Taça Rio games. At the same time, knowing that this is their last chance to still dream of the title, Fluminense, Botafogo, and Vasco have been improving with each round, especially the first two, who happen to face each other on Sunday at the Maracanã. The game is interesting because it will influence the semifinal pairings.
If Fluminense wins, Vasco could benefit and return to the top of Group B. If Botafogo wins, that possibility passes to Flamengo in Group A. The following weekend, it will be Flamengo and Vasco's turn to face each other. This, in fact, is the only thing that can change in this dull championship, with the vast majority of games lacking any interest. It is this lack of interest that Flamengo needs to avoid. If they let their guard down, the ship will capsize and the race will have another winner. It's not the time to discuss whether Ibson will be sold, for example. The club should focus on the reasons that led Toró to tackle the opponent in that way, in his first play in the match against Cabofriense. Why, even in an easy game like Saturday's, does Bruno have to go to such lengths to avoid the worst?
There's still a lot of faith in the Flamengo team. Joel is a good coach and the options are many and good. Christian, Kléberson, Ibson, and Renato Augusto form a respectable midfield. They make up a good four-skiff crew and, with a pair of oars in their hands, can dictate the team's rhythm. And if everyone is in good shape, the wind direction doesn't matter, because the boat will always be sailing with the tide.
THE DAY
Row, Flamengo, row
The new jersey will debut on Saturday against Madureira.
Martha Esteves
Rio - If the canoe doesn't capsize, Flamengo hopes to win the games against Friburguense tomorrow and Madureira on Saturday, to face Vasco on the 6th with a guaranteed spot in the Taça Rio semifinals. Against the Tricolor Suburbano, the red-and-black team will debut its new Sacred Mantle, the club's third uniform launched yesterday at the Rowing Academy.
The new jersey was inspired by the first model used by the club, known as Papagaio-de-Vintém, and features the first badge in the club's history: an anchor and two crossed oars, in addition to the initials CRF (Clube de Regatas do Flamengo).
In grand style, captain Fábio Luciano, Cristian, Toró, and Marcinho, with the luxurious assistance of the club's rowers Daniel, Adílson, Ramon, and Maciel, steered a Flamengo boat and presented the new uniform on the lagoon. The shirt will be sold starting Thursday for R$ 150,00.
"It was good to learn a little about the club's history. I hope the new jersey brings us a lot of luck, because our main objective is to beat Friburguense and Madureira, so we can face Vasco more calmly and with a place in the semi-finals guaranteed," said the Flamengo captain.
Not even the dispute involving Nike and the club, which could break the contract (ending in June 2009) alleging that the company has been negligent in supplying sports equipment, diminished the players' pride. The German company Adidas, the Italian company Lotto, and the Brazilian company Olympikus reportedly offered significantly more than the R$7 million annually paid by Nike.
Cristian brought his jersey to have it immortalized in a frame. Toró liked the idea and plans to do the same. Marcinho also praised the novelty.
“The most important thing is for us to honor the shirt. We're going all out to win the remaining games in the Taça Rio and also seek victories in the Libertadores. To play for Flamengo, you have to dedicate yourself to the maximum,” Marcinho understands.
Toró's salvation
The Flamengo supporter, who has been the target of much criticism for his aggressive behavior, is turning to Our Lady of Aparecida to overcome problems on and off the field.
Martha Esteves
Rio - Suddenly, a barrage of criticism has fallen on Toró. First, he made the mistake of assaulting the Uruguayan ball boy in the game against Nacional on the 6th. Then, he got involved in a fight with the Botafogo goalkeeper Castilho. Against Cabofriense, he received a yellow card for violent play two minutes after entering the field.
Concerned with denying the label of a violent player, Toró clings to Our Lady of Aparecida to overcome this difficult moment. He faces personal problems, which he prefers not to talk about. But, at 21, he tries to contain his anxiety about becoming a father for the first time. The midfielder, married to Luana, can't wait to have a baby.
While he hasn't yet achieved his dream, Toró wants to avoid controversy and focus solely on the team, to recover his good form and repay the trust of coach Joel Santana, who defended his protégé after the game against Cabofriense on Saturday.
“I’m seeking peace and quiet to work. That’s why I don’t want to get involved in controversies. Everyone has personal problems. I have a life outside of this too. Surely, all of this will pass. I’m a cheerful guy and I’ll bounce back,” he assures.
What Toró hopes for is to soon be remembered again as the determined player who won the admiration of the fans.
For this, he says he counts on the support of Joel, the psychologist Paulo Ribeiro, and his friends Léo Moura and Angelim. "They have been helping me a lot during this difficult time. We are a family," Toró says gratefully.
Off the field, he dedicates his life to Our Lady of Aparecida and to the belief that after the storm always comes the calm, and titles.
Marcinho sees no problem with the team's top scorer having only 5 goals.
Rio - Any self-respecting team needs a prolific center forward. Fluminense has Washington, with 9 goals in the Carioca Championship, Botafogo has Wellington Paulista, who has already scored 11 goals in the State Championship, but Flamengo, like Vasco, still doesn't have a prolific striker. The forward, Souza, who should fulfill this role, has only scored 5 goals so far in this State Championship. However, for his current attacking partner Marcinho, this isn't necessarily a problem:
"This shows that Flamengo has a very strong group, which has been winning and growing every day. I think that the more players score goals, the better, because Flamengo will come out winning. The important thing is to play well and win, regardless of who scores the goals," he commented in an interview with Rádio Globo.
Flamengo has 4 players indicted in connection with the last derby against Botafogo.
Rio - After some delay and a lot of pressure from Botafogo fans, the Attorney General of the Sports Justice Tribunal (TJD), André Valentim, filed charges against four Flamengo players for incidents that occurred in the last derby between the two clubs, on the 16th, which Botafogo won 3-2.
Jônatas, Obina, Bruno, and Toró could face suspensions ranging from 120 to 540 days if convicted in the trial initially scheduled for April 2nd, according to the website 'Justicadesportiva'.
Jônatas was indicted under article 251 (Complaining against or disrespecting the referee), which carries a punishment of one to four games; and under article 253 linked to 157.2 for the attempted headbutt on Jorge Henrique, whose minimum suspension is 60 days.
Obina has already been charged under article 254 (committing a violent act) and could be suspended for two to six games. The striker could also be punished for violating article 253 linked to 157.1, which would result in a suspension of at least 120 days for assaulting goalkeeper Castillo (the striker punched the opposing goalkeeper in the leg).
Goalkeeper Bruno will face trial under article 253 linked to 157.2, and could receive a minimum suspension of 60 days, for attempting to kick defender André Luís during the match.
Toró, who had already been involved in controversy for pushing a ball boy in Uruguay, was heavily criticized by the press and fans for being caught kicking goalkeeper Castillo in the head and was indicted under article 253 linked to 157.1, which carries a penalty of up to 120 days suspension.
SPORTS GAZETTE
Obina, Jônatas, Bruno, and Toró accused of causing a disturbance in front of Botafogo.
Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - After the punishment of Botafogo players for the turbulent Guanabara Cup final won by Flamengo, this time it is the Flamengo players who will go to court for the confusion in the last derby against Botafogo, on March 16th. In the last derby, which ended with a Botafogo victory, goalkeeper Bruno, midfielders Jônatas and Toró, and striker Obina were involved in a brawl with their rivals and were reported to the Sports Justice Tribunal (TJD) by prosecutor André Valentin and could be suspended for up to 540 days. The trial is scheduled for April 2nd.
Besides the lamentation at Gávea, the news can also be celebrated at General Severiano because Botafogo striker Jorge Henrique was also threatened with punishment.
“I had a lot of work to do to file these complaints. I spent an hour and a half watching the videos of the plays and I also had the help of another prosecutor, Alexandre Magno Coutinho. Since I didn't see any infraction by the player Jorge Henrique, from Botafogo, I didn't file a complaint against him,” commented André Valentin to Justiça Desportiva.
The charges against the Flamengo players are similar. Obina, sent off for a tackle on Lucio Flavio, was included under articles 254 and 253 (violent play) of the Brazilian Code of Sports Justice (CBJD), for also punching goalkeeper Castillo in the leg. Under each article, the suspensions range from two to six matches and from 120 to 540 days.
Jônatas, who also received a red card for allegedly headbutting Jorge Henrique, was charged under article 251 (complaining about or disrespecting the referee), in addition to article 253. The penalties in this case are, respectively, one to three games and 120 to 540 days.
Completing the list of Flamengo players charged, Toró was cited under article 253 for kicking goalkeeper Castillo in the head, and Bruno is included under the same article for allegedly attempting to assault Botafogo defender André Luís. Both suspensions range from 120 to 540 days.
Flamengo innovates in uniform launch - Gazeta Press
Flamengo players arrive by rowing wearing the new third jersey.
Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - Instead of the traditional runway show, Flamengo decided to innovate in the launch of its third uniform this Monday afternoon. Defender Fábio Luciano, midfielder Cristian, and midfielders Toró and Marcinho arrived by boat at the Rubro-negro's rowing headquarters, where they posed with the new shirts. In red and black, as mandated by the club's statutes, the third uniform's main novelty is the crest: instead of the traditional emblem, the shirt features a crest in homage to Flamengo's rowing, the first sport practiced at the club.
The new jersey is expected to debut next Saturday when Flamengo faces Madureira at the Maracanã at 16 PM for the seventh round of the Taça Rio. Madureira is currently third in Group 2 and may arrive at the match already out of contention for the state championship semifinals.
A change? - The new uniform, however, may not have a long life on the shelves at Gávea. This is because, behind the scenes, the club has received a proposal to change its sports apparel supplier. The decision should be made in the coming weeks.
Joel wants two more wins to rest his starters against Vasco\ Gazeta Press\
Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - This Tuesday afternoon, Flamengo will hold its final training session before beginning its concentration for the game against Friburguense on Wednesday. Coach Joel Santana has already stated that he aims for a victory in this game and a win against Madureira to guarantee early qualification for the Taça Rio semifinals. This would allow Joel to rest his starters in the April 6th derby against Vasco, preserving his key players for the April 9th game against Cienciano, at altitude in Cusco, for the Libertadores Cup.
“We know that two wins will guarantee our qualification, but we have to respect our opponents. Friburguense has a good team, quality players, and Madureira also has an experienced team. But we will play these two games at home and we have to make that count,” said Joel.
Ibson's Departure – Besides the concern of qualifying quickly for the Taça Rio and preparing for the upcoming Libertadores games, coach Joel Santana has another worry. Midfielder Ibson's loan ends mid-year, and the player has given interviews to the Portuguese press stating that he is likely to return to Porto-POR.
The Flamengo coach, however, still hopes that the situation can be reversed by then. "Ibson's contract only ends in June, and I'm sure the board will try everything to keep him here at Flamengo with us," stated Joel Santana.
Flamengo will make changes for Wednesday and Toró should return. - Gazeta Press
Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - After beating Cabofriense last Saturday and having Easter Sunday off, the Flamengo squad returned to training this Monday, already focused on the game against Friburguense, Wednesday night, at the Maracanã. For this game, coach Joel Santana already knows he will be without midfielder Kléberson, who received his third yellow card and will serve a suspension. Therefore, Toró should get another opportunity among the starters after being relegated to the bench in the last game.
"There are no starters or reserves here. Everyone is working hard and Joel knows what's best for Flamengo," said Toró, downplaying his reserve status for the match against Cabofriense.
Despite benching Toró and only bringing him on at the end of the game against Cabofriense, Joel Santana defends those who are calling the midfielder a disloyal player.
“We have to stop this, because otherwise Toró will have to stop playing football. He’s a good man and I take care of him. I didn’t put him in against Cabofriense because if we stumbled, they would immediately blame him. We have to stop this and help him a little too,” pleaded the Flamengo coach.
In addition to the likely inclusion of Toró, Joel Santana will make changes to his defense for the game against Friburguense. After being rested over the weekend, captain Fábio Luciano and Ronaldo Angelim return to the red-and-black team, replacing Thiago Sales and Leonardo.
Forward Obina and midfielder Jônatas, who served suspensions against Cabofriense, are available, as they have not yet been judged and should return to the bench. Both had been sent off against Botafogo.
PELENET
Flamengo players "row" and the club launches its third uniform.
Pedro Barreto\ In Rio de Janeiro\
In an unusual way. That's how the launch of Flamengo's third jersey took place this Monday at the club's nautical headquarters. Assisted by some of the Rubro-Negro's rowing athletes, defender Fábio Luciano, midfielder Cristian, and midfielders Toró and Marcinho arrived rowing to the meeting place.
Flamengo players unveiled their third kit at Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas.
Inspired by the first model, which became known as the "Penny Parrot," the new version is black and red on the front and predominantly red on the back. The uniform aims to honor the rowing team of the Flamengo club.
The new kit also features the club's first-ever badge, with an anchor and two oars, as well as the initials CRF (Clube de Regatas do Flamengo).
Flamengo's marketing director, Ricardo Jorge Hinrichsen, acknowledged the validity of the tribute paid to the club's rowing program. "Despite no longer being such a popular sport, rowing was largely responsible for the birth of this brilliant history," he said.
One of the current idols of the fans, defender Fábio Luciano also approved of the initiative: "I was happy to learn a little more about Flamengo's history and I liked the idea of the jersey honoring rowing. I hope the uniform brings us a lot of luck," said the player.
The new Flamengo jersey design doesn't yet have a confirmed debut date. The expectation was that the new uniform would be used next Saturday, when Flamengo plays Madureira at 16 PM at the Maracanã, for the seventh round of the Taça Rio, the second phase of the State Championship.
Toró appears as a possible replacement for Kléberson.
Pedro Barreto\ In Rio de Janeiro\
Monday's training session showed that Toró is likely to replace the suspended Kléberson in Flamengo's match against Friburguense on Wednesday at 21:45 PM at the Maracanã, for the sixth round of the Taça Rio, the second phase of the State Championship.
The midfielder appeared as a starter in the attack versus defense drill at Gávea and is expected to be selected by coach Joel Santana for the match against the third-placed team in Group B of the domestic competition.
Toró was also involved in the unfortunate news of the incident. The midfielder collided with defender Ronaldo Angelim, who had to leave training early. However, according to the club's medical department, the defender will not be a problem.
The move also served to confirm Renato Augusto's comeback. Just like in the matches against Nacional-URU (for the Libertadores Cup) and Cabofriense (Taça Rio), when he was a starter in both, the midfielder is expected to start in Wednesday's game.
"I don't have a guaranteed spot among the starters, but given the movement, there's a good chance I could start playing. I hope to live up to expectations," said the midfielder.
GLOBO ESPORTE
Four Flamengo players are indicted.
Obina, Jônatas, Bruno, and Toró could face suspensions ranging from 120 to 540 days.
After much delay, prosecutor André Valentin, from the TJD-RJ (Rio de Janeiro Sports Court), finally decided to indict four Flamengo players for the disturbances in the derby against Botafogo. Flamengo players Jônatas, Obina, Bruno, and Toró could face suspensions ranging from 120 to 540 days if convicted in the trial, which is initially scheduled for April 2nd, according to the website 'Justicadesportiva'.
Obina was charged under two articles of the Brazilian Code of Sports Justice: 254 (violent play), for the tackle that resulted in his expulsion, and 253 (aggression) linked to 157 for punching Castillo in the leg. If convicted, the striker could be suspended for two to six matches for the first charge and from 120 to 540 days for the second.
Jônatas was also charged under two articles, article 251 (complaining against the referee's decisions), which suggests a penalty of one to three games, and article 253, with article 157, for the attempted headbutt on Jorge Henrique, which provides for a suspension of 120 to 540 days. The Botafogo player, incidentally, was not formally charged by the prosecutor.
Goalkeeper Bruno and midfielder Toró were also charged under article 253 with 157 and could be suspended from the field for 120 to 540 days if convicted. The former for attempting to punch defender Andre Luis and the latter for kicking Castillo in the head.
Players hope the jersey will bring them luck.
Athletes arrive rowing at Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon; debut should be against Madureira.
Fred Huber
Fábio Luciano, Marcinho, Toró and Cristian with the new Flamengo jersey.
Rowers Fábio Luciano, Cristian, Toró, and Marcinho were responsible for presenting Flamengo's third uniform this Monday at the club's nautical headquarters in Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas. The players arrived at the event in an original way. Dressed in the new jersey, they, accompanied by the rowing athletes, arrived in a boat. The "kit" is expected to debut in the game against Madureira on Saturday, in the penultimate round of the Taça Rio. Fans will be able to purchase the product in stores starting Thursday.
The Flamengo players enjoyed the rowing experience. Captain Fábio Luciano admitted that he wasn't able to help much with moving the boat.
"We know that rowing is Flamengo's primary sport, and the jersey turned out really beautiful. Rowing was a new experience, but the professionals were the ones who actually brought the boat. We were just there for show, we helped a little," he says.
Midfielder Cristian said he hopes the new jersey will bring good luck to the team, but that will only be known after the match.
"It's important to revive the club's traditions. We'll only know if this jersey will bring good luck after the game," he says.
Marcinho, another of the "rowers," suggested a way to debut the uniform. He thinks the derby against Vasco would be a great opportunity.
"I think a cool debut for this jersey would be the game against Vasco, which is a classic. It's the biggest rivalry we have here in Rio de Janeiro," he says.
La Paz wants to sue FIFA.
The city's mayor will file a protest with the UN Human Rights Commission.
The controversy surrounding FIFA's veto of matches in cities with altitudes exceeding 2.750m continues (see video). In an interview with the Bolivian newspaper "La Razon," the mayor of La Paz, Juan del Granado, announced that he will sue FIFA for discrimination against the city. He promises to file a complaint with the UN Human Rights Commission against the governing body of football.
"It's absolute discrimination against our people. The government will pursue several legal actions, but not specifically against a club, but rather against the FIFA authorities. We have to take this case to the UN," stated Granado, who is part of the Committee for the Defense of Height, created to fight against FIFA's regulations.
Recently, authorities in Cuzco, Peru, declared they could sue Flamengo, who complained about playing in the city – located at over 3.500 meters altitude – against Cienciano in the Copa Libertadores. The president of the Peruvian club, Juvenal Silva, even said he might sue Márcio Braga, president of the Rio de Janeiro team.
At Flamengo, it's a day to cheer for 'Bolo'.
Colonel Bolognesi hosts Cienciano, and the result is of direct interest to Flamengo.
Fred Huber
Juan hopes that Colonel Bolognesi will give the red-and-blacks a 'little push'.
The timing isn't ideal, but Flamengo's players promise to endure until the end, cheering for Coronel Bolognesi this Tuesday against Cienciano at 23:40 PM (Brasilia time) in Tacna, Peru (SporTV will broadcast the match live). The match, valid for Group 4 of the Libertadores Cup, is of direct interest to Flamengo, who will lose the lead if Cienciano scores points away from home. The Cuzco team has six points, and Bolognesi only one. Both teams have one game less.
If Bolognesi defeats Cienciano, Flamengo's situation would become much easier, and the team would even have the chance to secure qualification with a game to spare, should they manage a victory in Cuzco. Left-back Juan said that he and the players, who will be in training camp for Wednesday's game against Friburguense, will take the opportunity to observe their opponents and, of course, cheer them on.
"It's important to watch, we'll be focused and focused on this match. In the first game, we tried to jinx them, but it didn't work. Let's see what happens now," he says.
Flamengo's next Libertadores match is on April 9th in Cuzco against Cienciano. The team's travel itinerary is not yet fully defined.
In good form, Juan dreams of playing for the national team.
Left-back comments on goal distribution among Flamengo players this season.
Fred Huber
Flamengo's game against Cabofriense in the Taça Rio last Saturday exemplified the tactical importance of left-back Juan to the team. Both of Flamengo's goals in the 2-0 victory originated from his feet (watch his performance alongside this text). The player is in great form, a level he's maintained since the 2007 Brazilian Championship, but even before that, he was already bringing joy to the fans. In the 2006 Copa do Brasil final against Vasco, for example, he scored the winning goal for Flamengo. He hopes this efficiency will be rewarded with a chance to play for the Brazilian national team.
"Since last year's Brazilian Championship, I've been in good form, and the important thing is that I'm managing to maintain this rhythm. I definitely think about playing for the Brazilian national team. Every day I give my all to make that dream a reality," he says.
This season, no Flamengo player has managed to lead the team's scoring charts. The goals are fairly evenly distributed. In the Carioca Championship, Souza has five, Obina, Diego Tardelli and Ibson have four each, and Juan and Leo Moura have three. The left-back believes this is a sign that the team attacks as a unit.
"The important thing is that we get a lot of players into the opponent's area. The movement of the forwards is important for that. Many times Souza, who is our main reference in the area, sets up the play and the players arrive from behind to finish," he says.
Juan said that the players are motivated even when facing smaller teams. According to him, at Flamengo, those who slack off have no place.
"The pressure is immense, we have to run a lot every time we step onto the field," he concludes.
Zico's first grandson is born
The son of Bruno Coimbra, former pagode singer, is named Felipe and was born this morning.
Eduardo Peixoto
Bruno Coimbra and Zico at the Maracanã last year before a match between artists.
Zico's first grandson was born in the early hours of Tuesday morning in Rio de Janeiro. Felipe is the son of Bruno Coimbra, the middle son of the current Fenerbahçe coach in Turkey and the greatest idol in Flamengo's history.
Bruno became known with the pagode group "Só no Sapatinho". Recently, he participated in Brazil's victory in the Artists' World Cup.
Joel trains the team's positioning.
Flamengo's coach leads tactical training and includes midfielder Toró in the starting lineup.
Fred Huber
Joel Santana sought to correct the positioning of the Flamengo team.
Flamengo coach Joel Santana led a tactical training session this Monday afternoon at Gávea to adjust the team's positioning. First, he focused on the defensive system and practiced ball distribution, and in the second half, he observed the team's movement in the offensive phase.
The Flamengo coach included midfielder Toró in the starting lineup, replacing Kléberson, who is serving a suspension. Fábio Luciano and Ronaldo Angelim, who were rested in the game against Cabofriense, will return to the team as normal. The latter left training early after taking a knock to the leg, but it shouldn't be a problem for Wednesday.
Some new faces appeared at Gávea this Tuesday. Left-back Léo and defensive midfielder Antônio, both from the youth divisions, had their first chance among the professionals. In addition, William Amendoim, who was on loan to Macaé, participated in the training session.
THROW
Flamengo players arrive at the nautical headquarters rowing.
Four players are models for the launch of the third jersey.
Fábio Luciano poses with the new uniform (Credit: Júlio César Guimarães)
LANCEPRESS! Nothing unusual. That's how you could define the beginning of the ceremony to launch Flamengo's third jersey this Monday. Players Fábio Luciano, Marcinho, Toró, and Cristian, assisted by athletes from Flamengo's rowing team, rowed from the Lagoa Rowing Stadium to the club's nautical headquarters.
The new design pays homage to the club's rowing team and is divided into two parts: the lower half is black, and the upper half is red. The rowing club's crest replaces the traditional CRF logo.
It is worth highlighting that Flamengo originated as a rowing club, initially named Grupo de Regatas do Flamengo (Flamengo Rowing Group), and later, Clube de Regatas do Flamengo (Flamengo Rowing Club).
The new jersey is expected to debut next Saturday against Madureira at the Maracanã, in the Taça Rio tournament.
Ibson will receive a flag to stay at Gávea.
Bruno and Joel have also been honored with a banner. | LANCEPRESS! |
Just as they did with goalkeeper Bruno, a faction of fans will present Ibson with a flag bearing his portrait this Tuesday. However, it will not yet be taken to the Maracanã stadium. This will only happen when the midfielder renews his contract with Flamengo, which expires on June 30th.
Ibson was loaned by Porto to Flamengo at no cost and it is still unknown what his future will be at the end of his contract.
In the current Flamengo squad, it's not just Ibson and Bruno who enjoy such privilege. Last December, when Joel Santana was deciding whether to stay at Flamengo or go to Japan, the fans presented the coach with a flag in his honor, and it seems to have won him over.
Joel will likely use the starting lineup once again.
The coach will not make many changes to face Friburguense.
LANCEPRESS!
Joel Santana led a tactical training session this Monday and kept the starting lineup for the game against Friburguense on Wednesday, in the double-header at the Maracanã. The only change to the team was the inclusion of Toró in place of the suspended Kleberson. Marcinho remains in the team and said that Flamengo needs the victory to quickly secure qualification for the semifinals.
"It's an important game, and if we win, we'll have a great chance of qualifying for the semi-finals," said the attacking midfielder.
The coach observed the junior team's left-back, Léo, instead of Egídio. The defensive midfielder Antônio is also with the first team at Joel's request, but he didn't participate in the tactical training. Willian Amendoim returned from his loan spell at Macaé.
Atlético-PR gives up on Vinícius Pacheco
The club director said that for the moment he will rely on Rogerinho.
Even without being used, the player will remain at Flamengo (Credit: Gilvan de Souza)
Tiago Pereira CURITIBA
Atlético Paranaense's football director, Alberto Maculan, revealed on Monday afternoon that negotiations with attacking midfielder Vinícius Pacheco, who belongs to Flamengo, will not progress. While not wanting to close the door on the player, the director said there is a possibility of having the attacking midfielder in the Brazilian Championship, but for now the club will focus on Rogérinho, who was at Fortaleza.
"He won't be coming for the Paranaense championship. With Rogerinho's arrival, another player for that position wouldn't be necessary. We'll wait and see how we perform in the Paranaense championship and reassess. For now, we'll go with Allisson, Rogerinho, Zé Antônio, and Léo Medeiros, who were recently signed," the director told LANCENET!.
The player was approached last week, around the same time that Athletico Paranaense finalized the return of Rogerinho, who was on loan at Fortaleza. The player's contract with the northeastern team had a clause that would release him if Athletico Paranaense requested it, even though he had only been at Fortaleza for three months.
Joel Santana observes three young people in Gávea.
Full-back Léo, defensive midfielder Antônio, and attacking midfielder William Amendoin trained.
LANCEPRESS!
Determined to develop talent, Joel Santana promoted two players from the junior team this Monday. They are Antônio, a defensive midfielder, and Léo, a left-back.
In addition to those two, William Amendoin, a promising 20-year-old midfielder who was on loan to Macaé, also returned to the club.
The three trained at Gávea this Monday. Léo even participated in the tactical training session focused on defense versus attack.
Nike speaks in a tone of reconciliation with Flamengo.
The company's communications manager sees the club as one of the biggest in the world.
Fábio Luciano is one of the models for the new "jersey" (Credit: Júlio César Guimarães)
LANCEPRESS!
During the launch of Flamengo's third jersey, Nike's communications manager, David Grinberg, used a conciliatory tone. Grinberg assured that the sports apparel supplier for Flamengo is willing to continue displaying its logo on the jersey of the club with the largest fan base in the world.
"Nike is motivated to maintain this successful partnership, which has already lasted eight years. I can't comment on the interest from other companies, but Flamengo is one of the main clubs in Brazil and the world," said the director, regarding the alleged interest from Adidas.
David Grinberg also expressed his gratitude for the club's support at the launch ceremony for Flamengo's third kit, and commented on the innovations in the new jersey.
The cool thing is that with a third kit we can move away from the usual and pay homage to the club's roots. The first and second kits are generally very tied to the club's statutes. With a third kit, we can have a greater mix.
The Flamengo/Nike partnership is nearing its end. Last Monday, Flamengo sent an extrajudicial notice to the sportswear company, requesting termination of the contract, alleging breach of clauses. Furthermore, it seeks compensation for losses and damages due to the royalties lost due to the club's jersey shortage in stores nationwide.
Marcinho: 'Scoring goals is difficult, but rowing is too'
The player, along with Fabio Luciano, Toró and Marcinho, rowed this Monday.
From left to right, Fábio Luciano, Toró, Cristian and Marcinho (Credit: Júlio César Guimarães)
LANCEPRESS!
Author of three goals in Flamengo's last two games, attacking midfielder Marcinho, during the launch of the club's third jersey - which pays homage to Flamengo's rowing team - said he felt the difficulty while rowing this Monday.
"Scoring goals is always difficult, but rowing is too. Luckily it was just a joke, because the rowing team was the one who had to do the rowing," he joked.
At the launch of Flamengo's third uniform this Monday, players Fábio Luciano, Toró, Cristian, and Marcinho, accompanied by four Flamengo rowers, arrived rowing at the club's nautical headquarters.
Captain enjoys his rowing debut.
Fábio Luciano admits that he had only taken photos on a boat before.
Fábio Luciano, ahead of Marcinho and Toró, commands the Flamengo ship (Credit: Júlio César Guimarães)
LANCEPRESS!
The surprise launch of Flamengo's third jersey – the players arrived at the club's nautical headquarters rowing – was humorously interpreted by Fábio Luciano as a new debut in his career.
"I'd only taken one picture with Angelim, but it was the first time I rowed. The shirt is beautiful, and I hope it's a big hit," he says.
Assisted by Flamengo rowers Daniel, Maciel, Adílson, and Ramón, the Flamengo football captain acknowledges that the players' effort (Toró, Cristian, and Marcinho also rowed to the club's nautical headquarters) was minimal.
"The rowing team brought the boat; we just helped out. We've already invited them to come to the field," he admitted.