Author: Vishwajit Sawant
In a dramatic turn of events during half-time of the match against Fortaleza, tempers flared in the Flamengo dressing room when striker Gabigol and vice-president of soccer Marcos Braz got involved in a heated argument, exchanging strong words. The incident occurred after Gabigol suffered an ankle injury due to the poor conditions of the Maracanã pitch, forcing him to miss the second half.
Gabigol, visibly shaken, directed his frustration at Braz, blaming him for the inadequate playing surface. Braz, in his role as vice-president, responded with the same intensity, increasing the tension in the room. The situation reached boiling point as insults were exchanged, requiring the intervention of other players to restore calm.
The extent of Gabigol’s ankle injury remains uncertain, and a further assessment is scheduled for Monday at the club’s training facilities. His availability for the upcoming Copa do Brasil quarter-final against Athletico on Wednesday is unlikely.
Despite the turmoil behind the scenes, Flamengo managed to regroup and came away with a 2-0 victory over Fortaleza. With this result, the team reached 25 points, securing third place in the Brazilian Championship standings.
The clash in the dressing room highlights the intensity and pressure surrounding the team’s quest for success. Flamengo will now need to resolve internal problems and refocus their efforts on the next important matches, with the aim of maintaining their strong position in domestic and continental competitions.
Marcos Braz clarified the disagreement between him and Gabigol.