Beyond Flamengo’s victory over Estudiantes de La Plata, the match ended in controversy after the Brazilian team was unfairly impacted by what is, to this day, one of the most controversial expulsions in football history.

The Controversial Double-Yellow Expulsion of Gonzalo Plata

It was the Ecuadorian Gonzalo Plata who fell victim in the 81st minute. The winger went to contest the ball when he was struck by defender Facundo Rodríguez, and both players fell to the ground. Ultimately, referee Andrés Rojas decided to show Plata a yellow card, his second of the match, resulting in his expulsion, despite the fact that he did not commit a foul.

On Friday, CONMEBOL released the audio from the technology booth and explained the analysis of the play that led to Gonzalo Plata’s unjust expulsion, detailing why the referee’s decision could not be overturned.

According to the official statement, “the defender in the white jersey (Rodríguez) kicks the foot of the attacker (Plata), and both fall to the ground, with no foul committed by the attacker.”

Furthermore, CONMEBOL acknowledged that “the referee incorrectly cautions Plata, showing him a red card for a double booking,” confirming the serious error by referee Andrés Rojas, which left Flamengo with ten players.

Flamengo Lashes Out at the Colombian Referee

Filipe Luís Blasts Andrés Rojas

“Unfortunately, today the referee wanted to be the protagonist of the match. And when that happens, he officiates without focus, without paying attention to the plays he should. You mentioned some, but there’s the penalty on Lino in the first half, the yellow card fouls, the extreme arrogance and haughtiness toward our players, and a very permissive attitude toward their team.”

“The arrogance and hubris of Mr. Andrés caused many families to leave here feeling wronged. All the work we put in was undermined by a referee seeking the spotlight. All I ask for is an apology and acknowledgment of the mistake. We all make mistakes, myself included. If he admits his error, fine, but we know that won’t happen.”

“The referee was completely out of control... Of course, it irritates the players; there’s no going back. Everyone is outraged by what happened on the field. No matter how much we try to stay calm for the 90 minutes, when these injustices and this arrogance occur... I hope it’s like in Spain: that they review Plata’s yellow card and overturn it so he can play the return leg. He won’t play, and there’s nothing we can do about it.”

“I’d like them to explain how a referee can have such a clear intent to send off a player like he did with Plata. I can’t wrap my head around it, and I’d really like an explanation. What I hope is that this referee doesn’t officiate any more Libertadores 2025 matches from now on. In our games? God forbid.”

Samuel Lino and Guillermo Varela Also Criticize the Refereeing

Samuel Lino: “The final result was heavily influenced by the refereeing. The mistakes made today hurt us immensely. They scored a goal at our home, and a lot of that had to do with today’s refereeing. A senseless expulsion, invented fouls, yellow cards that aren’t yellows, and nothing for Estudiantes. That’s what’s unbelievable. For us, everything; for Estudiantes, nothing.”

Guillermo Varela: “Congratulations to our team; we played a great game. In the first half, we had the chance to extend our lead, but we couldn’t. The match was under control, and the referee showed us yellow cards and nothing to them. But that’s the Libertadores. Our team is ready to go out and win.”

José Boto Denounces “Scandalous Refereeing” in the Libertadores

“I’ll try to sum up what happened today in a few words. I’ll ask CONMEBOL to carefully analyze what took place. A penalty in our favor turned into a red card for Plata, which not only hurt us in this match but will also hurt us in the return leg. In the play leading to their goal, the ball hit the arm of an Estudiantes player. It can’t be a coincidence.”

“Once again, a team with much more possession, that plays far more attacking football, ends up with more yellow cards than the other team. An Estudiantes player commits a serious foul on De Arrascaeta in the first half, and the referee doesn’t even show a yellow card, which would’ve been his second. He turns a penalty into a red card for one of our players.”

“I find it scandalous, shameful, that in South America’s premier competition, we keep seeing things like this. I ask CONMEBOL to pay attention to the return leg because this cannot happen again. It’s important that someone comes here to speak out. What happened out there was a scandal.”

Matías Viña’s Complaint Against the Fourth Official

“Everyone heard it. I speak Spanish. The fourth official told Estudiantes’ coach that their player already had a yellow card. Then, in the second half, the same thing happened.”

Flamengo to Appeal to CONMEBOL Over Gonzalo Plata’s Expulsion

According to ESPN Brasil, Flamengo will appeal to CONMEBOL to try to overturn Gonzalo Plata’s expulsion ahead of the second leg of the quarterfinals in La Plata. The red card caused outrage within the Mengão, who hope to have the Ecuadorian available at the Estadio UNO Jorge Luis Hirschi.