Palmeiras and Flamengo are locked in a point-by-point battle for the Brasileirão lead.
Following their 2–0 victory over RB Bragantino on Saturday (24), Verdão actually moved to the top of the table, while the Red and Blacks do not play until Monday (26).
On the continental stage, the São Paulo and Rio clubs are also battling for "supremacy" in South America.
In the 2021 Libertadores final, Palmeiras came out on top thanks to Deyverson's historic extra-time goal.
In 2025, Flamengo got their revenge, becoming the first Brazilian club to win the continent's premier club competition four times, with Danilo scoring against their green-and-white rivals.
And given the quality of their squads, the rivals were expected to meet again in the 2026 CONMEBOL Libertadores final in Montevideo, Uruguay, on November 28.
However, the Red and Blacks were knocked out by Estudiantes in the semifinals at their own Maracanã stadium, forcing them to put on hold not only their dream of a fifth continental title but also a "decider" against Verdão, who eliminated Fluminense.
Nevertheless, Flamengo are still pursuing a place in the Libertadores final because of the "Rojo Case" (see the Rio club's official statement below).
Palmeiras president Leila Pereira even criticized what she called an "attempt to win through the courts" by Flamengo's board.
And now, following the victory over RB Bragantino, coach Abel Ferreira took the opportunity to take a "dig" at Flamengo.
According to the Portuguese coach, Verdão are in the Libertadores final "on merit and without an asterisk."
"Our goal was to reach the final, and on the 28th we'll be there. As for the rest, CONMEBOL is an extremely competent organization. A club of Estudiantes' stature knows perfectly well what it should and can do. We, Palmeiras, reached the final because we won on the pitch. Estudiantes won on the pitch. Those legal matters are not for me to deal with. Whatever happens, Palmeiras will be there on the 28th, on merit and without any asterisks, to contest the Libertadores final once again."
Read Flamengo's official statement on the "Rojo Case"
"Clube de Regatas do Flamengo clarifies that it did not initiate any proceedings concerning the registration of player Marcos Rojo by Club Estudiantes de La Plata for the 2026 CONMEBOL Libertadores.
On October 9, Estudiantes asked CONMEBOL to add the player to its squad list for the semifinals as a replacement for an injured player. The registration period ('transfer window') in Argentina had been closed since September 2, and the player had played official matches for Racing up until September 27.
CONMEBOL, the competition organizer, which has always rigorously upheld compliance with its regulations and the integrity of its tournaments, reviewed the request and consulted FIFA. FIFA clarified that its rules on registration periods are also mandatory for domestic transfers and allow no exceptions beyond those provided for in its regulations. On that basis, CONMEBOL rejected the replacement on October 14 and upheld that rejection on October 15, that is, before the second leg of the semifinal. These rules are binding on all associations and are known to and accepted by all clubs when they enter the tournament. Flamengo took no part in any of these steps.
Dissatisfied, Estudiantes appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and named Flamengo, its semifinal opponent, as a party to the proceedings. This is how Flamengo was brought into the case on October 16. On October 21, CAS provisionally authorized the player's participation but rejected Estudiantes' request to waive any sporting and disciplinary consequences that might arise from the final ruling. The Argentine club and the player assumed the risks of that choice.
Having been brought into proceedings it did not initiate, Flamengo acted solely to protect its rights. Before the semifinal match, it informed CAS, in a submission also communicated to Estudiantes, that if the player were fielded, it would lodge the complaint provided for in the regulations. The Argentine club therefore took to the pitch aware of this consequence, in addition to the warning already issued by CAS itself. After the match, Flamengo lodged the complaint within the deadline, pursuant to Article 24.1.b of the CONMEBOL Disciplinary Code, and requested that the case be decided before the competition's final.
Therefore: (i) before the second leg of the semifinal, CONMEBOL, after consulting FIFA, twice rejected Estudiantes' request to register the player; (ii) it was Estudiantes that appealed to CAS to obtain clearance for the player, naming Flamengo as a party to the proceedings; and (iii) before the match, CAS denied Estudiantes the guarantee it sought that fielding the player would entail no sporting or disciplinary consequences.
This is not about seeking a result off the pitch. It is about ensuring that the rules of an international competition apply equally to all clubs, from all countries.
Flamengo reiterates its deep respect for CAS and CONMEBOL, institutions whose work is essential to the integrity, legal certainty and balance of international football, as well as for Estudiantes, a club with a distinguished tradition. Confident that CONMEBOL will handle the proceedings responsibly and carefully, Flamengo will calmly await the final ruling and accept it with the institutional respect that has always guided its conduct and that it expects from all participants."
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.