Sormani defends controversial red card in Remo vs. Santos match

Journalist Fábio Sormani has weighed in on the main controversy from the second leg of the Copa do Brasil Round of 16, where Santos secured a 1-0 victory over Remo. The match was defined by the 24th-minute expulsion of Remo defender Marllon.

Referee Anderson Daronco initially showed a yellow card for a foul on Caballero but upgraded it to a red card after a VAR review. Sormani dismissed claims that the punishment was excessive:

I respect everyone's opinion, but I can disagree. I don't understand how people think that sending off was not correct. Fábio Sormani

Beyond defending the call, the commentator suggested that Remo should have lost another player before halftime. Sormani argued that Pico deserved a red card as well for an intentional kick to Gabriel's stomach.

Despite Santos' numerical advantage, the game remained tight until the second half. The decisive goal came from Rony, following an assist from Neymar, who had entered the match as a substitute. The result confirmed Santos' progression to the next stage of the tournament.