The first leg of the Copa Libertadores quarterfinals between Flamengo and Estudiantes de La Plata not only delivered excitement on the pitch but also sparked a refereeing controversy that has marked the tie. The sending-off of Gonzalo Plata at the Maracanã ignited outrage within the Rio club, which just hours later received crucial news: Conmebol lifted the sanction, meaning the Ecuadorian will be eligible to play the return leg in Argentina.

Conmebol’s decision changes the outlook

An official statement released by Flamengo confirmed that South American football’s governing body acted on its own initiative and annulled Plata’s second yellow card, which had led to his dismissal in the 82nd minute when the score was 2-0 in favor of the Brazilian side. Shortly afterward, Estudiantes pulled one back through Guido Carrillo in the 89th minute, leaving the tie open at 2-1.

“With this measure, the player is eligible to play the second leg as normal,” the club announced on its website and social media. The decision brought relief to Flamengo supporters and restored calm to the coaching staff, who had voiced their frustration over the incident.

Protests and accusations against refereeing

Fla sporting director José Boto described Colombian referee Andrés Rojas’ performance as “scandalous and shameful.” He claimed Plata’s dismissal and other decisions influenced the outcome of the match. “It was a penalty in our favor and ended up as a red card. We clearly felt wronged,” he said.

Coach Filipe Luís also joined the criticism and called for the referee not to officiate again in the competition. According to him, “there was an attitude of arrogance towards our players and permissiveness towards the opponent, which cannot be accepted at this level of competition.”

Even the release of the VAR audio, which explained that the action could not be reviewed since it was a second yellow card, failed to ease tensions. In Brazil, the consensus was clear: refereeing directly influenced the outcome of the match.

All or nothing in the return leg

With the suspension lifted, Gonzalo Plata will be available for the second leg on September 25 at the Jorge Luis Hirschi stadium, where Estudiantes will look to overturn the deficit against a Flamengo side holding the advantage.

The controversy, however, promises to remain center stage. Beyond the scoreline, what happened at the Maracanã exposed the fragile relationship between clubs and refereeing in South America’s premier competition.