The Most Clever Move You’ll Ever See: Flamengo’s Genius Penalty Award
In a game that had everything, Flamengo’s match against Criciuma on Saturday evening took a dramatic turn when a player used what he thought was a 1000 IQ move to stop an opponent from scoring. But, as we all know, the best-laid plans can often backfire, and that’s exactly what happened.
With the scores level at 1-1, Flamengo’s Everton was making a break down the wing when Criciuma’s Gustavo Barreto spotted a second ball that had wandered onto the pitch. In a moment of pure genius, Barreto kicked the second ball towards Everton, causing the referee to stop play. But, instead of awarding an indirect free kick or a drop ball, the referee pointed to the spot and gave Flamengo a penalty.
The decision sparked a mixed reaction from fans, with some arguing that an indirect free kick or a drop ball would have been more appropriate. However, we believe the referee made the right call. According to Law 12 of the IFAB’s Laws of the Game, when an object that isn’t a match ball interferes with play, a direct free kick should be awarded. And, in this case, the second ball was most definitely an object that interfered with play.
The law states that if a player throws or kicks an object at an opposing player, play should be restarted with a direct free kick from the position where the object struck or would have struck the person or the ball. In this instance, the penalty area was the location where the second ball struck the ball that Everton was about to shoot, making a penalty kick the correct decision.
The incident highlights the importance of referees being able to think on their feet and make quick decisions in high-pressure situations. It’s not often that a second ball wanders onto the pitch, but when it does, the referee needs to be able to handle it with ease.
In the end, Flamengo secured a crucial 2-1 victory, leaving them just five points off the top of the Brazilian Serie A table with a game in hand. The win was a testament to the team’s resilience and determination, and we can’t wait to see what the rest of the season holds.
Follow us on all social media platforms for more updates