Ever since the “non-existent penalty on Vitor Roque” incident in a “Choque-Rei” (a classic São Paulo derby) during the Paulistão, which put him “in the freezer,” referee Flávio Rodrigues de Souza has been reinventing himself and trying to show more quality in his officiating (also to defend his FIFA badge).

There was a lot of talk about him expelling Léo Jardim, Vasco da Gama’s goalkeeper, for delaying the restart of the game (the traditional “cera” or time-wasting) against Internacional at Beira-Rio Stadium.

The rule was followed. But let’s look at the details:

According to GloboEsporte.com’s statistics, the Vasco goalkeeper is the second player to waste the most time with on-field medical attention in Brasileirão 2025.

The referee is not a doctor, therefore, he cannot evaluate a player’s injury. But he can assess whether an injury genuinely occurred, or if, in a normal play, any athlete simulates an injury to gain time, cool down the opposing team, or simply “kill game time” for their own benefit.

Upon being sent off (for a second yellow card), Léo Jardim didn’t seem to feel the pain that prevented him from standing, and walked off normally! Huh, did the card become medicine?

Many people hold the following thesis: attend to the athlete (even if not injured) and add injury time to the match. But the Rule doesn’t allow this; it mandates punishment for time-wasting and simulations, providing for added time only for genuine medical attention and requiring a Yellow Card punishment for time-wasting. And the reason is clear: to give dynamism to the game, to curb unfair play, and to respect the Spirit of the Game (i.e., a game focused on scoring goals, with correct behavior).

In conclusion: may other referees enforce the rule, and may other goalkeepers behave more honestly.Everyone must cooperate for Fair Play.