THE GLOBE

The family drama that almost brought Toró's world crashing down

Action at the TAS makes Conmebol threaten to eliminate Brazilians from the Libertadores

Photo caption: TORÓ DISPUTES the ball with Marcinho during Flamengo's collective training session: once again, reasons to smile

Carlos Eduardo Mansur

While violent reactions on the field raised questions about Toró's football and conduct, there was a consensus at Gávea: a family drama had changed his cheerful demeanor and his performance on the field. Surrounded by care and adored by coach Joel Santana, Toró smiled again after overcoming a true torment. His wife Luana's suspected uterine cancer nearly brought his world crashing down. Until a new test ruled out the disease.

In the reserve team, Lomba in goal and Bruno on the bench

At 21, married for eight months, Toró was making plans. For the first time, he saw himself as a regular starter. At home, he lived with the woman he'd dated for six years, since they were teenagers.

"One day, I came home and saw her crying. It was the biggest shock of my life. We're young, with our whole lives ahead of us, wanting to have children. It's hard to see everything fall apart. Now, I'm back to being the calm person I always was," said Toró. "How can I forget everything and work? I'd come home and see Luana in a bad mood. Our bond is strong. In Xerém, I only went to school because of her. If she was absent, I was absent.

The personal drama, according to Toró, taught him lessons.

- The player isn't seen as a human being. They look at him and say, "The guy earns well, has a great car." But we have problems. And they say I'm out partying at night. It's not easy.

Joel Santana's undisputed starter, Toró now finds himself ready to rebuild his image:

- I want to return to the national team, win titles with Flamengo. Now I feel ready.

The reserve team that will face Vasco tomorrow will feature goalkeeper Marcelo Lomba on the field and Bruno on the bench. In midfield, 18-year-old junior Aírton will make his debut.

"I'm calm. I only got nervous when they called me for an interview," joked Aírton, named after Ayrton Senna.

Vice President of Football Kléber Leite said he was informed yesterday by Cruzeiro's Zezé Perrela that CONMEBOL sent a letter threatening Brazilian clubs with elimination from the Copa Libertadores if their lawsuit against high-altitude matches at the Court of Arbitration for Sport is not withdrawn. Flamengo and Cruzeiro will bring together the five Brazilian clubs competing in the Copa Libertadores to discuss their position.

The prosecutor of the TJD of the Federation, André Valentim, will appeal the punishments applied against Bruno, Toró and Jônatas, which he considered lenient.

Teixeira's vote sparks crisis at Conmebol

Bolivian claims Brazilian leader scored an own goal

CBF president Ricardo Teixeira's decision not to sign the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) document that maintains club matches at altitudes above 2.750 meters without acclimatization, and which asks FIFA to reconsider the measure regarding national team matches in the qualifiers, could split the organization. Yesterday, Bolivian Football Federation president Carlos Chávez harshly criticized the Brazilian:

"I thought only Bolivia and a few other Andean countries were upset with him, but I was surprised that other countries are too. Ricardo Teixeira, our representative on the FIFA Executive Committee, didn't represent us. Teixeira served (at FIFA) representing the five Brazilian clubs competing in the Copa Libertadores. He violated the mandate he received. He scored an own goal, and his actions will affect what CONMEBOL has always been: united, integrated, and monolithic."

The CBF president has already assured that FIFA will not accept CONMEBOL's request to hold qualifying matches in cities with elevations higher than 2.750 meters without an acclimatization period. If this were to happen, the Brazilian national team would not have to play against Bolivia in La Paz and Ecuador in Quito. The official explained his vote at the meeting yesterday in Asunción:

"More important than any political stance is the interests of Brazilian football. The damage that can be caused by games at this altitude has already been amply demonstrated," the official stated on the CBF website.

Ancelmo Gois

Olympic mosquito

Diego Hypolito, our gymnast, after knee surgery 15 days ago, is back at Hospital Copa D'Or, in Rio.

He is hospitalized with dengue fever.

Sports Panorama

tight skirt

Things got heated at the South American Football Confederation's Executive Committee meeting in Asunción when the topic of altitude was discussed. Bolivian federation president Carlos Chávez, delivering a patriotic speech, was interrupted by Ricardo Teixeira, who, in addition to serving on the CBF, is also a member of FIFA's Executive Committee.

"A theater. FIFA doesn't accept altitude based on studies," Teixeira said.

The problem is that as a CBF director, he represents Brazilian clubs, all of which oppose high-altitude games—incidentally, the same position as FIFA. However, he owes his support to the organization's Executive Committee to the federation presidents who were there.

Discussions on the topic continued, and it became clear that only Ricardo Teixeira would oppose games at altitude. The document was drafted and sent to FIFA, but without Ricardo Teixeira's signature.

The meeting was chaired by Nicolás Leoz and the document was signed by: Julio Grondona (Argentina), Carlos Chávez (Bolivia), Luis Bedoya (Colombia), Harold Nicholls (Chile), Luis Chiriboga (Ecuador), Juan Napout (Paraguay), Manuel Burga (Peru), José Corbo (Uruguay), Rafael Esquivel (Venezuela).

SPORTS JOURNAL

Apnea to withstand the altitude of Cuzco

Now there's no way out. Flamengo will have to climb the hill and face Cienciano in Cuzco for the Copa Libertadores. Worse, given the fuss Flamengo makes about high-altitude games, the reception in Peru isn't expected to be the warmest.

Fitness trainer Ronaldo Torres has been working on the best possible adaptation to the Andean city's 3.360m altitude. According to him, the only way to successfully withstand altitudes above 2.750m is through adequate acclimatization.

"What we do here is a palliative," Torres told Rádio Bandeirantes, referring to the apnea therapy in the club's pool. He continued: "The athlete will feel it, because, unlike in the pool, they will be active and will need oxygen to endure, and that is difficult at that height. Physically, we will be able to cope, but physiologically, we don't know. There is also the psychological aspect, which weighs heavily."

The game is scheduled for the 9th, in Cuzco.

THE DAY

Bruno, Jônatas and Toró will return to the TJD

Rio - The prosecutor of the Rio de Janeiro Sports Court of Justice (TJD/RJ) stated in an interview with the website Justicadesportiva, that he will appeal the Court's decision in the cases of the red-blacks Jônatas, Toró and Bruno.

"I've already received the case and have until Monday to file an appeal. But I can already tell you that I will appeal the decisions of Jônatas, Bruno, and Toró. I won't appeal Obina's decision, because he appeared in court, made a point of clarifying the incident in the complaint, and stated that he was truly focused on the ball and not on Botafogo's goalkeeper," said the prosecutor.

According to Valentim, one of the factors that motivated him to appeal the decision was the players' negligence.

Flamengo's lawyer, Dr. Michel Assef Filho, preferred not to get involved in the controversy and said that the prosecutor is within his rights to appeal the decision.

The court's decision resulted in Obina being suspended for two games for his sending-off against Botafogo. Bruno was unanimously acquitted, and Toró and Jônatas were each suspended for one game.

Rio - He already has the idol's name. But Aírton can't yet accelerate to reach Gávea. About to play his first derby against Vasco da Gama for Flamengo, the new Flamengo prospect still relies on the bus to get to training.

The midfielder arrived in Gávea just three months ago, after excelling at Nova Iguaçu. Raised in the Baixada region and living in the Austin neighborhood, Aírton left his family and moved to Ninho do Urubu, the headquarters of Flamengo's youth academy.

The player just didn't expect to please coach Joel Santana so quickly and get his first start against his archrival. "My dad calls me every day. He's a Flamengo fan... the pressure is high," says the 18-year-old, still shy in front of cameras: "I think it's easier to face Vasco than the journalists."

It takes Aírton almost two hours to get to Gávea. "I have to take two buses or a van, because it's a long way from Vargem Grande to here," says the player, who was named after his idol Ayrton Senna by his mother, Dona Silvana. "But I still don't have a car like his. For now, it's just buses."

Joel Santana confirmed that the reserves will face Vasco. The team was lined up in a 3-5-2 formation, with Marcelo Lomba, Rodrigo Arroz, Leonardo, and Thiago Salles; Luisinho, Aírton, Kléberson, Marcinho, and Egídio; and Maxi and Diego Tardelli.

Fla will go with an all-reserve team in the classic against Vasco

Rio - Coach Joel Santana confirmed this Friday that he will field an all-reserve team for this Sunday's game against Vasco da Gama at 16 p.m. The match will secure first place in Group A of the Rio Cup for the red-and-black team.

Junior Airton will make his debut for the starting lineup in a derby, but he's showing a desire to remain among the professionals.

"I hope to win in football to help my family. I intend to play well in Sunday's derby to establish myself as a professional," said the shy midfielder.

Even goalkeeper Bruno will be rested for next Wednesday's decisive Libertadores match against Cienciano. The likely lineup to take the field in a 3-5-2 formation is: Marcelo Lomba; Thiago Salles, Leonardo, and Rodrigo Arroz; Luizinho, Airton, Kleberson, Marcinho, and Egídio; Diego Tardelli and Maxi.

Márcio Braga: 'Petrobras ennobles Flamengo's shirt'

Rubro-Negro president postpones the 'Romário' agenda

Rio - One day after releasing an official statement informing that Flamengo is already moving to begin negotiations for a new contract with Petrobras, the club's president, Márcio Braga, was full of praise for the state-owned oil company.

"I believe this contract is not only the oldest in Brazil, it's the oldest in the world. I don't believe there's another club that has a 24-year contract with a company," said Márcio Braga in an interview with Rádio Brasil.

"I think it's a wonderful contract; I'm Petrobras' number one fan. They're two incredibly strong brands (Flamengo and Petrobras) in Brazil, and they're in the imagination of the entire Brazilian population. Today, the Flamengo nation has almost 33 million fans, and that green and yellow (Petrobras logo) further ennobles Flamengo's jersey, making it even more beautiful. I hope that next year, Flamengo renews the contract at market price and that this marriage remains happy for the next 100 years," he added.

When asked if he liked the recently released third shirt of the Rubro-Negro, the president took the opportunity to praise the club's number 1 shirt:

"I really liked it. I like it as much as the white one. Now, the red and black one with horizontal lines is wonderful! It's the most beautiful soccer jersey in the world, it vibrates, and it even has the Brazilian flag represented by the Petrobras symbol," he gushed.

When the subject of Romário came up, Márcio Braga changed the subject:

"Romário is a matter for later. We have these other serious issues like the altitude, the renewal with Petrobras, participation in the Libertadores, we're in the Carioca final... these are the priorities for now. The Romário case deserves serious attention, but we mustn't lose focus at the moment," he concluded.

SPORTS GAZETTE

Timemania: Flamengo receives the largest amount\ Gazeta Press\

Brasília (DF) - Caixa Econômica Federal, which controls Timemania, released the figures for the first payment this Friday. Nearly four million reais will be allocated to the clubs that joined the project, which aims to reduce their debts with the Federal Revenue Service. Clubs that are up to date with their Income Tax payments will receive the funds directly. Flamengo, the club that received the most bets, accumulating 9,9% of the total, will be entitled to the largest payment: approximately R$131,2. Corinthians, with 7,7% of the total bets, will receive slightly less than the Rio de Janeiro club: R$124,7.

Moreira Franco, vice president of the Government and Lottery Fund, believes the new lottery is on the right track, despite the relatively small amount compared to some clubs' debts, which exceed R$20 million. He believes the first year of Timemania will be a year of consolidation, when the game will become more popular.

Fla players may be tried again\ Gazeta Press\

Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - Two days after receiving light sentences in the TJD trial, Flamengo players face another trial. The Prosecutor of the Rio de Janeiro Sports Court of Justice (TJD/RJ), Dr. André Luiz Valentin, stated that he will appeal the decision. He explained that only striker Obina, who was suspended for one match, is not in his sights. "I've already taken over the case and have until Monday to file the appeal. But I can already say that I will appeal the decisions of Jônatas, Bruno, and Toró. I won't appeal the only one against Obina, because he appeared in court, made a point of clarifying the incident in the complaint, and stated that he was truly focused on the ball and not on the Botafogo goalkeeper," the Prosecutor told the Justiça Esporte website.

Dr. Valentin, who has already admitted to being a Flamengo fan, stated that one of the factors that led him to appeal the decision was the Flamengo players' neglect. "Jônatas didn't even show up at the court and didn't justify his absence. I found this extremely disrespectful. He didn't give the complaint any importance. The others (Toró and Bruno) appeared in court, but they didn't bother to clarify the circumstances of their accusations," he recalled.

The prosecutor, accused of misrepresenting the charges to favor Flamengo players, defended himself against some claims that he exaggerated the charges: "Many said I exaggerated the charges. I didn't exaggerate at all, and I even demonstrated through video evidence that all the infractions occurred. The defense was not at all brilliant. They presented only two computer-generated photos, which were not even dated. They didn't provide video evidence and used mine. Because of this, the match report wasn't overturned," he concluded.

Toró and Jônatas were suspended for one match, with the latter having already served his automatic suspension. Bruno was unanimously acquitted. The trial was held on April 2nd by Commission A of the Rio de Janeiro Court of Justice (TJD/RJ). Attorney Michel Assef Filho said the prosecutor's office has the right to appeal but said he doesn't believe harsher punishments will be imposed.

Joel shows confidence in reserve team\ Gazeta Press\

Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - This season, Flamengo lost both derbies (against Fluminense in the Guanabara Cup and against Botafogo in the Rio Cup) in which they fielded a reserve lineup. Even so, coach Joel Santana didn't hesitate to confirm that he will rest the starters for the match against Vasco da Gama this Sunday, in the final round of the Rio Cup.\ In Friday afternoon's training session at Gávea, the reserves showed their worth and won 2-0, the training session against the starters who will face Cienciano-PER next Wednesday in the Copa Libertadores.\

"The team that takes the field on Sunday is very good. They put in a great performance today and are ready to put on a good performance. We have very high-quality players on the team, like Kléberson, Marcinho, Maxi, and Diego Tardelli," said Joel.

Flamengo confirms interest in renewing sponsorship\ Gazeta Press\

Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - President Márcio Braga confirmed that Flamengo is interested in starting talks soon to extend its sponsorship contract with Petrobras, despite the renewal having only recently been signed. The contract currently generates just over R$16 million per year for the Rio de Janeiro club. The president issued an official statement confirming his interest.

Márcio Braga: “Accepting altitude is absurd and irregular”\ Gazeta Press\

Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - Last Thursday, CONMEBOL decided to maintain its previous decision to allow games at altitudes above 2.750 meters, despite FIFA recommending otherwise. The decision did not please Flamengo's directors, who wanted to free the team from the obligation to play against Cienciano-PER on the 9th in Cuzco, at an altitude of 3.400 meters. Flamengo president Márcio Braga confirmed that he will still meet with the club's lawyers to consider new measures against CONMEBOL's decision.

"CONMEBOL is in violation of FIFA's statutes. Every match they play puts the lives of athletes at risk. This decision by CONMEBOL is absurd," Márcio Braga said.

Romário – The president prefers to avoid discussing the possibility of the club holding a farewell game for Romário.

"Let's leave this Romário issue for later, as we have other more important matters at the moment," commented the director.

PELENET

After a difficult period, Tardelli hopes to regain prestige at Flamengo

Bruno Rousso\ In Rio de Janeiro\

After scoring the goal that secured Flamengo's Guanabara Cup title (a 2-1 victory over Botafogo), striker Diego Tardelli began experiencing a patchy spell at Gávea. According to him, complications stemmed from a series of personal issues.

Now, however, times have changed. With everything sorted out and at peace with life, Tardelli is thinking about permanently securing his place at Rubro-Negro. And the first step will be taken on Sunday, in the derby against Vasco da Gama, at 16 p.m., in the final round of the Taça Rio, the second round of the State Championship.

"I'm going to take advantage of this opportunity to recover here. I went through a difficult period, with personal problems, but now everything is fine. I have peace of mind and am ready to play great football," he assured.

During training on Friday afternoon, Diego Tardelli played a different game. Instead of staying deep in the box, he dropped back a bit and tried long passes and long balls.

"I don't feel very comfortable in this role. But I'm adapting. I believe the coach (Joel Santana) did this because of my quality in passing. But what I really want is to play. It doesn't matter where," he emphasized.

On an afternoon of two Flamengos, Joel confirms reserves against Vasco

Bruno Rousso\ In Rio de Janeiro\

This Friday afternoon's training session featured two Flamengo teams. On one side of the uneven Gávea field, the supposed starters, who will face Cienciano-PER on Wednesday at 21:50 PM in Cusco, in the penultimate round of the Copa Libertadores group stage. On the other, the reserves, who will face Vasco on Sunday at 16 PM in the final round of the Taça Rio, the second round of the State Championship. At the end of the session, the substitutes prevailed: a 2-0 victory, with goals from Paulo Sérgio and Kléberson.

"I liked their movement. They showed a lot of desire and good organization," said coach Joel Santana, referring to the team preparing for the game against Cruzmaltinos.

"I chose this formation for a very simple reason. We're going on a grueling trip to Peru on Monday. And I don't want to lose any players to injury or fatigue," explained the manager, making it clear that he has a lot of confidence in his 'second team'.

"You need to see that this team has players like Luizinho, who is training very well there on the right wing. There's Kléberson, Marcinho, Diego Tardelli. So it's a strong team."

The only question remaining is who will wear the No. 1 jersey in the derby: Marcelo Lomba or Bruno. However, despite Joel's mystery, the latter is likely to take the field. "I don't know that yet. We'll decide by then. I've left Roberto (goalkeeping coach) free to decide," said the coach.

The starters trained with: Bruno, Leonardo Moura, Fábio Luciano, Ronaldo Angelim and Juan; Jaílton, Cristian, Toró and Ibson; Renato Augusto and Souza.

The reserves were formed with: Marcelo Lomba; Rodrigo Arroz, Leonardo and Thiago Sales; Luizinho, Airton, Kléberson, Marcinho and Egidio; Maxi Biancucchi (Paulo Sérgio) and Diego Tardelli

Kleber Leite: "Next year, the band will play differently"

From UOL Esporte\ In Rio de Janeiro\

Like president Márcio Braga, Flamengo's vice president of football, Kleber Leite, was not happy with CONMEBOL's decision to hold football matches at altitudes above 2.750 meters, a decision taken this Thursday. The director, however, remains hopeful that the situation will change in the future.

"Next year, the band will play differently. It's clear that Brazil has a strong representative in Ricardo Teixeira (president of the CBF). He was the only one who didn't sign the document that gave Conmebol unanimity. In 2009, the position of banning games at altitude will be definitive," he told the Sportv channel.

Kleber Leite took the opportunity to illustrate the difference between matches played at high altitudes and matches played in more favorable conditions.

"Just take Santos as an example. They won 1-0 but lost 2-1 to São José in Oruru (at an altitude of 3.700 meters). They arrived at Vila Belmiro, had no difficulty whatsoever and won 7-0. Playing at altitude is a monstrous sporting inequality," he raged.

The Flamengo representative made it clear that the decision to attempt the "elimination" of high-altitude games did not come solely from the Gávea club. He reiterated the support of other representatives of Brazilian football.

"All the other clubs are in this. It's not just our fight. Just like Flamengo, the other four (Fluminense, Cruzeiro, São Paulo and Santos) signed the document," he concluded.

With Conmebol's decision, the team led by Joel Santana will have to travel to Cusco, where they will face Cienciano, next Wednesday, in the South American competition.

For red-black Airton, Flamengo x Vasco counts as a final

Bruno Rousso\ In Rio de Janeiro\

Flamengo doesn't have any major goals in the derby against Vasco da Gama, which will take place on Sunday at 16 p.m. in the final round of the group stage of the Taça Rio, the second round of the State Championship. However, for one player, this match will be more than special.

At 18 years old, young midfielder Airton will make his professional debut for the Red-Blacks. Signed just three months ago to play with the youth team, the former Nova Iguaçu player sees a great opportunity unfolding before him. According to him, it's the chance of a lifetime.

"For me, this is a final. I didn't imagine it would happen so quickly. But since it did, I have to grab it with all my strength. It's my big opportunity," the player emphasized.

Even at his young age, Airton hasn't yet experienced the glamorous side of football. But little by little, he's getting to know it. Embarrassed by so many cameras, microphones, and recorders around him, he admits it's much easier to "act" on the field.

"I get nervous about all of this. I was more nervous when they called me for an interview than when I found out I was going to play against Vasco," he admitted.

Whether Airton will thrive in football, only time will tell. But based on his name, expectations are high.

"My mother named me that because of Ayrton Senna (three-time Formula 1 champion). She said she did it because he was a victorious person. But honestly, I don't know much about him," he explained.

On an afternoon of two Flamengos, Joel confirms reserves against Vasco

Bruno Rousso\ In Rio de Janeiro\

This Friday afternoon's training session featured two Flamengo teams. On one side of the uneven Gávea field, the supposed starters, who will face Cienciano-PER on Wednesday at 21:50 PM in Cusco, in the penultimate round of the Copa Libertadores group stage. On the other, the reserves, who will face Vasco on Sunday at 16 PM in the final round of the Taça Rio, the second round of the State Championship. At the end of the session, the substitutes prevailed: a 2-0 victory, with goals from Paulo Sérgio and Kléberson.

"I liked their movement. They showed a lot of desire and good organization," said coach Joel Santana, referring to the team preparing for the game against Cruzmaltinos.

"I chose this formation for a very simple reason. We're going on a grueling trip to Peru on Monday. And I don't want to lose any players to injury or fatigue," explained the manager, making it clear that he has a lot of confidence in his 'second team'.

"You need to see that this team has players like Luizinho, who is training very well there on the right wing. There's Kléberson, Marcinho, Diego Tardelli. So it's a strong team."

The only question remaining is who will wear the No. 1 jersey in the derby: Marcelo Lomba or Bruno. However, despite Joel's mystery, the latter is likely to take the field. "I don't know that yet. We'll decide by then. I've left Roberto (goalkeeping coach) free to decide," said the coach.

The starters trained with: Bruno, Leonardo Moura, Fábio Luciano, Ronaldo Angelim and Juan; Jaílton, Cristian, Toró and Ibson; Renato Augusto and Souza.

The reserves were formed with: Marcelo Lomba; Rodrigo Arroz, Leonardo and Thiago Sales; Luizinho, Airton, Kléberson, Marcinho and Egidio; Maxi Biancucchi (Paulo Sérgio) and Diego Tardelli.

Flamengo leads the first transfer of Timemania; São Paulo comes next

From UOL Esporte\ In São Paulo\

Flamengo leads the way in the first allocation of Timemania funds to soccer clubs. According to the report, released by Caixa Econômica Federal this Friday, the Rio de Janeiro club received 9,9% of the total bets.

With this, Flamengo will receive the largest share of the transfer, totaling R$131,2. Second place in the ranking went to Corinthians, which received 7,7% of the souvenirs and will receive R$124,7.

In the first list, São Paulo teams benefited the most. São Paulo received the third-highest amount, with R$118,3, followed by Palmeiras, with R$117,7, and Santos, with R$114,2.

Completing the top ten in the "ranking" are Grêmio (R$ 113,6), Vasco (R$ 111,8), Internacional (R$ 111,6), Cruzeiro (R$ 110,1) and Botafogo (R$ 109,4).

For the Vice President of Government and Lottery Fund, Moreira Franco, Timemania's performance is in line with Caixa Econômica Federal's expectations.

"The first year of Timemania will be a year of consolidation for the game, which tends to become better known by the population as time goes by," highlights Moreira Franco.

In addition to the football clubs, which received a total of R$3.983.858,12, the National Health Fund (R$543.253,38), National Sports Secretariat (R$543.253,38), National Penitentiary Fund (R$543.253,38), Social Security (R$181.084,46), Brazilian Paralympic Committee (R$54.325,32) and Brazilian Olympic Committee (R$307.843,55) also took part in the transfer.

Prosecutor of the TJD-RJ takes action again against Flamengo

From UOL Esporte\ In Rio de Janeiro\

Toró, Jônatas, and Bruno could face charges again. This Friday, André Luiz Valentin, prosecutor of the Rio de Janeiro Sports Court (TJD-RJ), announced that he will appeal the ruling from last Wednesday's trial. At the time, the midfielder and defensive midfielder received a one-match suspension, while the goalkeeper was acquitted.

"I've already taken the case and have until Monday to file the appeal. But I'm already saying that I'm going to appeal the decisions of Jônatas, Bruno and Toró. I'm not going to appeal Obina's, because he appeared in court, made a point of clarifying the incident in the complaint and declared that he was really focused on the ball and not on Botafogo's goalkeeper (Castillo)," said André Luiz Valentin.

Flamengo's legal department declined to comment. According to the club's lawyer, Michel Asseff Filho, the attorney is doing his job.

"When the Prosecutor's Office feels defeated, it has the right to appeal," the "leader" said in an interview with the website Justiça Desportiva.

Along with Toró, Jônatas, and Bruno, Obina was also tried and received a two-match suspension, but served one. Flamengo, already qualified for the semifinals, will field a reserve team to face Vasco da Gama this Sunday at 16 p.m. at the Maracanã stadium in the Taça Rio, the second round of the State Championship.

Flamengo leads Group A of the Rio Cup with 16 points, tied with Fluminense, who will face Madureira, also on Sunday, at Edson Passos Stadium. However, the Red-Blacks have the advantage on goal difference: 10 to 9.

After success in Türkiye, Zico could become Mangueira's samba theme

From UOL Esporte\ In São Paulo\

Coach of Fenerbahce's historic campaign in Turkey, which is currently in the Champions League quarterfinals, Zico could be the theme of Mangueira's 2009 Carnival samba theme, according to the newspaper Lance. The former player will have to win an internal dispute with other proposals. The decision will be made on the 28th.

Excited by the prospect, Zico's sons are scrambling for funds to bolster their bid to honor the former Flamengo player. They hope to raise R$3 million and have already begun a pilgrimage to companies and will attempt to secure help from Fenerbahce's board.

"I'm aware of the possibility. Any kind of tribute will be welcome. I always go out at Beija-Flor, but I have a huge affection for Mangueira," Zico, from Türkiye, told Lance.

After winning the first leg of the quarter-final against Chelsea 2-1 at home, Fenerbahce plays next Tuesday in London and can even draw to qualify for the semi-final.

GLOBOESPORTE

Vasco x Fla: luxury friendly at Maraca

Cruzmaltinos want to break their drought in classics. Rubro-Negro prioritizes Libertadores

Coaches from the same generation, Lopes and Joel face off again at Maracanã

Vasco and Flamengo face off this Sunday at 16 p.m. at the Maracanã Stadium in another edition of the "Clássico dos Milhões." This clash between Rio de Janeiro's most popular clubs is viewed differently by Vasco fans and Flamengo fans. GLOBOESPORTE.COM will be covering the match in real time starting at 15:50 p.m. Premiére will broadcast the game live.

For Vasco, the match is a chance to break their drought in classics this year and boost their morale for the decisive stage of the Rio Cup. For Flamengo, the match is considered less important than Wednesday's clash against Cienciano in the Libertadores Cup. A victory in the high altitude of Cuzco, Peru, will guarantee Flamengo's qualification for the round of 16.

The importance each side places on the game is evident in the lineups. Vasco's new coach, Antônio Lopes, decided to rest Edmundo from Thursday's match against Bragantino, to ensure the striker is in better condition for Sunday's match and the Taça Rio semifinals. Joel Santana, meanwhile, decided to keep his starters for the match against Cienciano and test newcomers against Vasco, including goalkeeper Marcelo Lomba and midfielder Aírton.

For Vasco, Antônio Lopes, in his second match in his sixth stint as coach, challenges the team's lack of victories against its main rivals. Under Romário and then Alfredo Sampaio, the team played three classics in 2008 and lost all three (successively to Botafogo, Flamengo, and Fluminense). The coach will continue with the 3-5-2 formation, which secured qualification for the round of 2 of the Copa do Brasil last Thursday. Eduardo Luiz, Luizão, and Jorge Luiz are tasked with avoiding another setback against their archrival. In the Guanabara Cup semifinal, Flamengo won 1-XNUMX.

The coach's only doubt for the derby is whether to field Morais. With two yellow cards, the player risks being cautioned by the referee and missing the team for the Taça Rio semifinal (in the video above, Morais demonstrates his skill against Bragantino). Without a confirmed presence in the team, striker Jean already knows how important a victory over their biggest rival is to the club's board and fans.

"I don't want to lose to Flamengo, not even on odds or evens. There's no friendly against Flamengo. We know how important this game is to the club president, and we have to win."

At Flamengo, coach Joel Santana, with the team already qualified for the second-round semifinals and a guaranteed spot in the final after winning the GB Cup, will use the match to conduct tests and observations. 18-year-old Aírton will get his first chance. Signed from Nova Iguaçu for the youth team, the midfielder pleased the coach and will get an opportunity in Sunday's derby. Another debutant is goalkeeper Marcelo Lomba, 21, who is playing his first official match for the club.

Unlike previous matches, Joel will field a three-man defense instead of the usual 4-4-2. Despite resting key starters (Bruno, Leo Moura, Juan, Fábio Luciano, Ibson, and Souza), the red-and-black coach praises the team that will take the field.

"The team that takes the field on Sunday is very good. They put in a great performance this Friday and are ready to put in a good performance. We have very high-quality players on the team, like Kléberson, Marcinho, Maxi, and Diego Tardelli," the coach stated (watch the video above with the coach's analysis of Sunday's derby).

A victory could see the team finish first in Group A, which would lead to a new meeting with Vasco in the semifinals.

Obina and Toró, suspended for fouls in the match against Botafogo, and Jônatas, injured, are out of the match. Midfielder Rômulo, who has recovered from a torn ligament in his left knee, could reappear in the team later in the game.

Timemania: Caixa releases first transfer\ Flamengo, the club that received the most bets, leads the ranking of values\

Timemania is beginning to yield its first financial rewards for participating clubs. Caixa Econômica Federal, which controls the country's newest lottery, released the figures for the first installment this Friday. Nearly R$4 million will be distributed among the clubs that joined the game, which aims to reduce their debts to the Federal Government. Clubs in good standing with the Federal Government will receive the funds directly. For teams with outstanding debts, the money will be used to reduce their debts.

Flamengo, the club that received the most bets, accumulating 9,9% of the total, will receive the largest amount of R$131,2. Second in the lottery ranking, Corinthians, with 7,7% of the total bets, will receive slightly less than the Rubro-Negro: R$124,7.

The values ​​are defined according to the Series that the club plays in the Brazilian Championship and the volume of bets it receives from bettors.

Despite the insignificant amount compared to the debts of some clubs, which exceed R$20 million, the vice president of Government and Lottery Funds, Moreira Franco, believes that Timemania is well underway.

- The first year of Timemania will be a year of consolidation for the game, which tends to become better known by the population as time goes by - he says.

Club Total Net Value\ 1) Flamengo 131.253,84\ 2) Corinthians 124.704,68\ 3) Sao Paulo 118.384,76\ 4) Palmeiras 117.713,09\ 5) Santos 114.264,02\ 6) Grêmio 113.602,41\ 7) Vasco 111.869,75\ 8) Inter 111.628,75\ 9) Cruzeiro 110.105,84\ 10) Botafogo 109.499,74\ 11) Fluminense 108.858,18\ 12) Atlético-MG 108.255,94\ 13) Goiás 104.319,58\ 14) Sport 104.245,36\ 15) Atlético-PR 103.874,52\ 16) Nautico 103.176,60\ 17) Figueirense 102.990,24\ 18) Youth 102.736,81\ 19) Paraná 102.657,83\ 21) Vitoria 42.784,95\ 23) Santa Cruz 41.719,38\ 24) Coritiba 41.629,93\ 29) Portuguese 40.932,45\ 30) Ipatinga 40.901,83\ 41) Bahia 12.783,96\

Joel confirms reservations against Vasco

The team will have Klebélson, Marcinho and Diego Tardelli in Sunday's classic

Joel Santana says the team playing on Sunday is very good

Flamengo coach Joel Santana confirmed this Friday the team that will face Vasco, on Sunday, in the last round of the Rio Cup: Marcelo Lomba, Rodrigo Arroz, Leonardo and Thiago Sales; Luizinho, Aírton, Kléberson, Marcinho and Egídio; Maxi and Diego Tardelli.

Joel was pleased with the team's performance in Friday's training session in Gávea. The reserves defeated the main team, which is preparing for the match against Cienciano, 2-0.

"The team that takes the field on Sunday is very good. They put in a great performance this Friday and are ready to put on a good performance. We have very high-quality players on the team, like Kléberson, Marcinho, Maxi, and Diego Tardelli," the coach stated.

In addition to resting starters for the game at the altitude of Cuzco (Peru), Joel intends to observe some athletes against Vasco.

"The criteria (for selecting the team) are simple. We'll have a very grueling game on Wednesday, and we can't risk losing any players to injury, especially since we've already qualified for the Rio Cup semifinals. Besides, I want to take a closer look at some players, like Maxi, Airton, Tardelli, and Marcinho."

Defeated collectively, the team preparing for Wednesday's game trained with Bruno, Léo Moura, Fábio Luciano, Ronaldo Angelim and Juan; Jailton, Cristian, Ibson and Toró; Renato Augusto and Souza.

Fla trio at risk of returning to the TJD

Prosecutor decides to request a new trial, alleging negligence on the part of Toró, Jônatas and Bruno

Meia Toró is in Valentin's sights. Obina escaped retrial.

The relief for Toró, Bruno, and Jônatas was short-lived. After being tried for their mishaps during the derby against Botafogo, played on the 16th, and celebrating the result (Bruno was acquitted; Jônatas and Toró received one-game suspensions), the Flamengo players are expected to face a new trial soon. The prosecutor for the Rio de Janeiro Sports Court (TJD-RJ), André Luiz Valentin, stated that he will appeal the decision. According to him, only Obina (suspended for two games) is not in danger of having his sentence increased.

"I've already filed the case and have until Monday to file an appeal. But I can already tell you that I'm going to appeal the decisions of Jônatas, Bruno, and Toró. I'm not going to appeal Obina's, because he appeared in court, made a point of clarifying the incident, and stated that he was truly focused on the ball and not on Botafogo's goalkeeper," Valentin told the website "Justiça Desportiva."

The Flamengo players' lack of concern for the trial, in Valentin's opinion, was the main factor that led the prosecutor to appeal the initial decision. He was displeased with Jônatas' absence and the lack of explanations from Toró and Bruno.

"Jônatas didn't even show up in court, and his absence wasn't justified. I found this extremely disrespectful. He didn't pay attention to the complaint. The others (Toró and Bruno) appeared in court, but they didn't bother to clarify the incidents (that led to) their complaints," said the prosecutor, a self-proclaimed Flamengo fan.

Flamengo's lawyer, Michel Asseff Filho, said he does not intend to enter into controversy with the TJD Prosecutor.

- When the Prosecutor's Office feels defeated, it has the right to appeal - he told "Justiça Desportiva".

Altitude: CBF says it defended Brazilians

Ricardo Teixeira was the only one to vote against games over 2.750m at the Conmebol meeting

The only one to vote against high-altitude games at the Conmebol Executive Committee meeting on Thursday, CBF president Ricardo Teixeira said he acted in defense of Brazilian clubs.

"More important than any political stance is the interests of Brazilian football. The damage that can be caused by matches at this altitude has already been widely demonstrated and discussed, which even led FIFA itself to oppose holding matches above 2.750 meters," the official told the CBF website.

At the meeting, CONMEBOL ratified its decision to host continental club tournament matches and even World Cup qualifiers in cities located more than 2.750 meters above sea level. Nine of the ten representatives voted in favor.

Kléber Leite: 'There was no hope'

Vice President of Football believes the altitude ban will only come into effect next year

CONMEBOL's decision to ignore FIFA's guidance regarding the ban on games at altitudes above 2.750 meters surprised no one at Flamengo, especially vice president of football Kléber Leite, who already knew that the only vote for the ban would be from Brazil.

"We were certain that the only opposition to the altitude would be the CBF. There was no hope. But this isn't Flamengo's fight; it's Brazilian football's stance. In fact, the foray into CONMEBOL involved signing contracts with Brazilian clubs competing in the Libertadores," the executive told SporTV Newsroom (watch the interview).

The stance of Ricardo Teixeira, president of the CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation), who represented the clubs at the meeting, drew praise from Kléber. According to the club's president, the South American Confederation pressured him to sign a document to be sent to FIFA, requesting a review of the veto. However, he refused to yield to the pressure, and CONMEBOL failed to achieve the desired continental unanimity.

Kléber also says he is confident that this South American decision is temporary, and that it will be reversed for the next Copa Libertadores da América (watch more criticism from the director below).

"I have sources who have assured me that the veto will be final next year, as there is already a consensus within FIFA that the request is valid. Playing at altitude, under the current conditions, is a monstrous sporting inequality. The decision will come from the top down and will be enforced," he assures.

Despite all the controversy, Flamengo has no alternative and, this year, will have to play a decisive match at altitude. Next Wednesday, the Rubro-Negro faces Cienciano at 3.360 meters in Cuzco, and a defeat could be fatal to their chances of qualifying.

Return to the 2007 scheme helps Ibson

Since the beginning of the year, Joel Santana has complained that the supporter is far from the area

Eduardo Peixoto

Joel hopes Ibson will arrive more in the area with the scheme used in 2007

The discussion about Ibson's decline in performance always revolves around the uncertainty surrounding his future at Flamengo. But there are those who see the situation from other perspectives. Joel Santana, for example.

The coach knows that this year's change in tactics has hurt his midfielder. In informal conversations, the coach often mentions this.

"Have you seen Ibson in the opposition box like he did last year? That's right. He's playing further back now and isn't as visible," says the coach.

Therefore, the return to the 2007 scheme that Joel is trying out for the match against Cienciano, next Wednesday, in the Libertadores, also aims to help the midfielder.

In 22 games during Flamengo's run in the last Brazilian Championship, Ibson scored six times. Only one of them was a penalty kick. This year, he played 16 times and scored four goals. Only one from a free kick. All the others were penalty kicks.

- This formation (with Jaílton and Cristian) gives Ibson more freedom - recognizes left-back Juan.

In last Thursday's tactical training session, Joel Santana deployed a four-man defensive line. Jaílton was on the right, Fábio Luciano and Angelim were in the middle, and Cristian was on the left. The idea was for the two defensive midfielders to cover the full-backs.

THROW

TJD may judge red-blacks once again

Jônatas, Toró, and Bruno may face trial again. Obina is free.

LANCEPRESS! TJD prosecutor André Luiz Valentin has pledged to appeal the court's sentence imposed last Wednesday on players Jônatas, Toró, and Bruno. The three, along with Obina, were tried by the court for the disturbance during the Rio Cup match against Botafogo.

The lawyer believes the players ignored the ruling. He added that he will not appeal Obina's punishment, as he testified before the TJD and received a two-game suspension, which he believes is sufficient.

Valentin has until Monday to appeal and request a new trial for the red-and-black players. Jônatas did not appear at the trial last Wednesday. Toró and Bruno were in court but did not have their statements taken.

Joel and Lopes: winners with similar trajectories

Coaches have a long history managing rivals Flamengo and Vasco

Antônio Lopes and Joel Santana are two of the most successful coaches in Rio de Janeiro football (Credit: Archive)

Cassius Leitão RIO DE JANEIRO\ Get in touch\

Rivals this Sunday at Maracanã, coaches Joel Santana and Antônio Lopes have many stories to tell about Flamengo and Vasco, as they both managed both clubs and have already experienced great moments defending the eternal rivals.

Check out the careers of Joel Santana and Antônio Lopes at Flamengo and Vasco:

JOEL SANTANA AT FLAMENGO

1996\ In his first experience at Gávea, Joel Santana won the Rio de Janeiro state championship undefeated. The team's attack consisted of Sávio and Romário. The title game was against Vasco: a 0-0 draw.\

1998\ After a 5-0 thrashing by Vitória in the Copa do Brasil and a 2-1 loss to Bangu, Flamengo fired Paulo Autuori and hired Joel Santana. The coach's debut was excellent: a 3-0 victory over Botafogo. In five months on the job, Joel didn't have as much success and was relegated from the Brasileirão after a loss at the Maracanã to Juventude.\

2005\ Joel took over Flamengo, who were in the relegation zone of the Brazilian Championship with nine rounds remaining. In those nine games, the Red-Blacks had an incredible 77,7% success rate, earning six wins and three draws. This impressive streak saved the club from the Second Division.\

2007-2008\ Joel took over Flamengo, once again in the relegation zone, and in an impressive run, led the club to third place and, consequently, a spot in the Copa Libertadores. This year, Joel already won the Guanabara Cup and secured the team a place in the semifinals of the Rio Cup.\

JOEL SANTANA AT VASCO

1986-1987\ He took over the club in the 1986 Brazilian Championship, but did not last long in the position. He was fired after a loss to Guarani in 1987, but still valid for the 86 Brazilian Championship.\

1992-1993\ Joel was brilliant in his second stint at Vasco and won the 1992 and 93 state championships. The first of them undefeated.\

2000/2001\ After Oswaldo de Oliveira's feud with Eurico, Joel took over Vasco in the 2000 Brazilian Championship semifinals and promptly eliminated Cruzeiro at the Mineirão Stadium. In the final, he defeated São Caetano in early 2001 (as the final had to be postponed due to problems at São Januário Stadium) and made Vasco the four-time Brazilian champion. In late 2000, Joel was one of the protagonists of one of the greatest comebacks in football history. After trailing 3-0 to Palmeiras at Palestra Itália, Vasco came back to win 4-3 and won the Mercosur title with a man down, as Júnior Baiano had been sent off. He remained with the club until mid-2001.\

2004/2005\ Joel also had his savior phase at Vasco in 2004. He took over the club at the end of the Brazilian Championship that year and saved it from relegation by beating second-place Atlético Paranaense 1-0, with a goal from defender Henrique.\

ANTÔNIO LOPES AT VASCO

1981-1983\ A period marked by the 1982 Carioca title. Against Flamengo, then world champion, the coach changed half the team for the final and delighted the Vasco fans present at Maracanã.\

1985-1986\ Lopes doesn't win any titles, but he is the coach who launches Romário into Vasco's professional team.\

1991\ The coach stayed at the club for a short time and performed poorly.\

1996-2000\ Antônio Lopes becomes the most successful coach in Vasco's history. During this period, he wins a Carioca Championship (1998), a Rio-São Paulo Tournament (1999), a Brazilian Championship (1997) and a Libertadores Cup (1998).\

2002-2003\ He left his mark With Marcelinho Carioca, Marques and Souza, Antônio Lopes led Vasco to win the 2003 Carioca, the club's last.\

ANTÔNIO LOPES AT FLAMENGO

1987\ The coach led the Rubro-Negro during the Campeonato Carioca campaign and was marked by having lost the final to Vasco. He was fired after losing the opening game in the Campeonato Brasileiro.\

Vasco x Flamengo: expectation of an open game at Maraca

Together, arch-rivals have already scored 90 goals this season\ LANCEPRESS!\

Even though both teams have already qualified for the Rio Cup semifinals, this Sunday's derby between Vasco and Flamengo certainly has its own power of attraction. And the reason it captivates fans is precisely the pinnacle of football: the goal. This year, Vasco has already found the net 46 times, while Flamengo has scored 44. But the Cruzmaltino advantage doesn't stop there.

In all 19 games this year, Vasco has not failed to score a single goal. Flamengo, on the other hand, failed to score on three occasions. At Colina, the club's thirst for victory tomorrow is so intense that the club will rest only players who are suspended and likely to miss the semifinals if cautioned. And the icon of Vasco's desire to beat their rival is, curiously, a former Flamengo player who is responsible for scoring goals for the club he currently plays for.

"I don't want to lose to Flamengo, not even on odds or evens. It's going to be a good game, and we know how important this match is to our president. That's why we're going for the win no matter what," said striker Jean.

Returning to Vasco this season, the player has left behind the reputation of being a poor finisher he had at Gávea and is already counting his goals for Vasco.

In the last game, against Bragantino, he scored what he considers one of the most beautiful goals of his career. With his mind already set on tomorrow's derby, Jean looks to the past for inspiration.

In 2006, for Vasco, he scored once in a 3-1 victory over Flamengo, sending the Vasco fans into a frenzy with his "I'm crazy!" celebration, in which he raised his hands to his legs and, crouching down, began jumping on the pitch. While he's not promising a goal, Jean promises another surprise for the fans he's come to admire if he scores again against the club he discovered in 2003.

"I'll see if I can do something different. The fans' affection is very important to me," said Jean.

Tardelli wants to turn things around in the classic

The striker will have another chance to start in Sunday's game against Vasco

Diego Tardelli says his worst game for Flamengo was against Vasco (Credit: Paulo Sérgio)

LANCEPRESS!

Striker Diego Tardelli scored Flamengo's winning goal in the Guanabara Cup, but after that, he lost his place in the team. This Sunday, against Vasco da Gama at the Maracanã stadium, the striker will have another chance to start and perhaps regain his place in the squad.

He was confirmed by coach Joel Santana in the attack alongside Argentine Maxi. Despite the friendly atmosphere surrounding this match, for Tardelli, it's a statement.

"It's a Vasco versus Flamengo match, which is always important. Since I arrived at Flamengo, my worst game was against Vasco (in the Guanabara Cup semifinal, where I started and came off at halftime). This game is an opportunity for me and the other players to show that we have what it takes," he stated.

The player attributed his drop in performance to personal problems, but he assures that this will no longer affect him.

- My self-esteem was shaken, but my confidence is returning during training - he concludes.

Aírton is named after the pilot

Young man will make his debut for Flamengo and hopes to be victorious like Senna\ LANCEPRESS!\

Midfielder Aírton, who makes his professional debut, revealed that his name is a tribute to the driver Ayrton Senna, three-time Formula 1 world champion.

– My mother told me about him, she said he was a victorious person – he explained.

The 18-year-old player assured, once again, that he is ready to make his debut for the club:

"For me, it's a championship final. I'm just starting out and I need to prove myself. I never imagined I'd debut against Vasco and Flamengo, but I'm ready."